Trump's Proposal To End Heating Aid For Low-Income Americans Faces Congressional Opposition

[DonViejo]

Source: Associated Press



By DAVID SHARP Published JULY 3, 2017 11:25 AM

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The summer air is sizzling as the Fourth of July approaches, yet 86-year-old Richard Perkins already worries about how he’s going to stay warm this winter.

President Donald Trump has proposed eliminating heating aid for low-income Americans, claiming it’s no longer necessary and rife with fraud. People needn’t worry about being left in the cold, he says, because utilities cannot cut off customers in the dead of winter. But he is wrong on all counts.

The heating program provides a critical lifeline for people like Perkins, and officials close to the program don’t see any widespread fraud. Guidelines for winter shutoffs by utilities vary from state to state and don’t apply to heating oil, a key energy source in the brittle New England winter.

“It’s beyond my thinking that anyone could be that cruel,” said Perkins, a retired restaurateur who relies on the program to keep warm in Ogunquit, Maine.

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-eliminate-heating-air-congress-opposition

[Matthew28]

1. Pure evil

Everything this bastard does is aimed against the poor.

[niyad]

2. this. . . .creature becomes more repulisive and hate-filled by the day.

[Stainless]

3. Move

They should just move to a warmer place...../s

[dbackjon]

5. Yup. And make sure you get a job ASAP

[angstlessk]

6. What does .../s mean?

there IS a smilie for sarcasm if that's what you meant, and here it is

Go to smilies and at the very end is a list of more smilies...it's the first in the second list

[jmowreader]

7. One tiny problem

If they can't afford heating fuel they can't afford to move, even if they abandoned everything but what'll fit in one suitcase.

[IronLionZion]

14. Moving costs money

so I hope you're /s is for

[Mountain Mule]

16. Are you sure you're not a Trump supporter in disguise?

If a person is so poor that they qualify for heating assistance, they don't have the money to move. I get heating assistance and I count my every penny. After paying the basics like rent and food, I have no money left. I don't own a vehicle either. I'd have to come up with first, last, and damage deposit, the money to hire a U-Haul van and the deposits for utilities in my new warm winter town - which most likely would be a hot summer town like Phoenix or Tucson where it's not uncommon for summer temps to reach 120 degrees. With my medical condition, heat like that would kill me as sure as below zero temps would. I'd have to pay a small fortune for air conditioning and I don't think anyone helps with AC bills.

But tell you what. Since you are obviously such a compassionate person, maybe you'd like to finance my move to Tucson out of the kindness of your heart. You can message me via DU mail. Thanking you in advance for your generosity.

[chwaliszewski]

19. Relax.....

/s means sarcasm. They were being sarcastic with their comment. The humor of it is that is probably what a lot of conservatives think.

[robbob]

33. The humor is also that's what they were saying about health care:

Which repuke was saying different states will have different health care: if you don't get coverage in one state just move to another...

Disgusting...

[Mountain Mule]

35. It's EXACTLY what they are saying!

Normally, I have a pretty good sense of humor, but as a disabled person under the Trumpf regime, my sense of humor is stretched pretty thin these days. Over the weekend I watched a live feed of a group of Americans with disabilities being pushed in their wheelchairs by the cops out of Colorado Senator Cory Gardner's Denver office. They were protesting Gardner's stance on Trump-I-don't-Care and they were being arrested and locked up - some for the second or third time. Trumpf's agenda for the disabled is criminal. Sorry if I can't laugh about it.

[jpak]

24. Like Hell

ESAD

[xor]

39. or just become millionaires so they can pay for their own damn heat...

* I don't think everyone got the sarcasm in your post. I'm guessing because we've all heard/seen people make similar arguments as that with no sense of irony.

[riversedge]

4. Trump and his advisors just make up stuff (fakery) and expect folks to agree

with them. This is CRUEL!

[CountAllVotes]

8. How is it "fraud" exactly?

To get on this program and receive any help from it you must:

Supply them copies of all income statements and income tax returns (so you must file even if you pay or receive nothing)

In cases of medical necessity, a letter from your doctor is required

To receive help at your home you must:

Provide property tax bills/statements

A deed to your house if you own it

and on and on and on and on it goes ...

Fraud? HOW?



To the poster below that says, "Move' .. move where exactly? If you are in this boat you a likely lucky to have a roof over your head & likely do not have money just pack it in and MOVE!

[standingtall]

9. The republiscum definition of fraud is someone

receiving a benefit they feel they personally should not get for whatever reason. Official laws,rules and guidelines do not matter. Only the laws,rules and guidelines that exist in the heads of republiscums are important. Got it?

[ck4829]

40. "Fraud" to Republicans means poor people are doing something

Not unlike "voter fraud" AKA poor people and minorities voting.

[louis-t]

10. That's because dumpy is going to invite homeless people

to live in one of his homes for the winter, right?

[jmowreader]

11. I thought this bastard was the businessman's friend

What Donald Scrooge is proposing is to shift the burden of keeping poor people from freezing to death in the winter - and that is EXACTLT the end state of this proposal - from the government to business. The example that comes to mind is Reagancare - Saint Ronnie's requirement hospitals taking Medicare funds treat anyone who walks through the door regardless of ability to pay. Reagancare is a huge part of why medical costs are what they are.

If "exhibiting evil beyond the wildest dreams of Charles Dickens" isn't an impeachable offense, something is very wrong with us.

[workinclasszero]

12. Republicans make killing the poor into a sport for the 1%er's

Trump and his party are the immanent terror threat for most Americans

[LiberalLovinLug]

13. 'pub voters should be made aware that he is Mr. Burns

only fatter

[Mountain Mule]

15. I need for Trump to tell all this to the company that sells me propane in the winter

I am disabled, and when next winter rolls around, I will be 66. My social security check is so small, I need to get out a magnifying glass to see it. Since I rent, I'm stuck with propane heat and propane is not cheap around here - it can easily run $600 or more for me to fill my propane tank even though I keep the heat at 65 during the day and turn it off completely at night. If the propane company doesn't get the money, they don't put propane in my tank. That simple, and it doesn't matter whether it's July or January. In theory, I could heat with electric heaters, but that costs a small fortune in electric bills. Since my source of heat is officially propane, the electric company can turn off my electricity in the dead of winter if I don't pay my bill. If that happens, a $200 "re-connect" fee is added to the amount outstanding on my electric bill. Without LEAP (low income energy assistance program), I will have no heat in my home. I can barely pay the rent and other bills as it is. I can't imagine anyone would be that cruel either, but then we are talking about Trumpf and his core.

[cutroot]

17. The State of Michigan already took back my Home Heating Credit ( HHC ) 2016

Over $1200, just gone.

[pansypoo53219]

18. FRAUD? he dares mention that word?

[turbinetree]

20. I have a question, that I as a citzens would like to put forth to one as**** that is leasing

one former post office paid for by and with millions of others taxpayers dollars, that is still "OWNED" by the taxpayers, shut the fucking heat off at the post office in DC and also the fucking air conditioning......................that has his fucking sexual predator name on the building

Then go to each asshole republican in each state and in Congress and shut off there heat source---------------fuck them and the horse they rode in on...........................

[Solly Mack]

21. If you freeze to death you won't need medical care anymore. Saves the government money they can pass

on to wealthy people, who are warm and snug in their homes.

Be patriotic this 4th of July - Die already!

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

22. What a fucking asshole!!!

[CentralMass]

23. I had the same reaction when President Obama cut funding for LIHEAP.

http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2011/02/09/133629567/obama-to-propose-deep-cuts-in-home-heating-program

[VermontKevin]

25. Obama's cut followed basic economics--the price of energy went down. You don't have the same thing

here. LIHEAP should be adjusted according to prices, and as a safeguard, keep the reserve.

Trump is alleging fraud, and as a punishment, wants to cut the program. Obama's decision was based on solid economic theory. The former is vindictive, the latter, smart.

[CentralMass]

28. Sound economic theory ? No cuts should have been made to that program.

[VermontKevin]

30. The program's purpose is to subsidize fuel costs. So taking logical account of the PRICE of fuel

is sound economics. President Obama never touched the reserve, as a safeguard.

Trump isn't doing this based on economics, he's just being an asshole.

[CentralMass]

34. His proposed cuts were rightfully opposed by many. That was the wrong program to cut to win

political brownie points. People in my neighborhood in MA struggled to keep warm in winter. I had neighbors around the corner that would purchase diesel fuel in 5 gallon fuel cans to keep the furnace running during cold spells because they couldn't afford the cost of .a fuel oil delivery.

I'll argue against your mindset on this all day long and vote accordingly where possible.


http://citizensenergy.com/news/articles/kennedy-rails-plan-cut-fuel-aid

http://thehill.com/policy/finance/210647-obama-cuts-to-heating-assistance-budget-again-provoke-bipartisan-opposition

https://ctmirror.org/2011/02/15/obama-administration-cuts-heat-assistance-trouble-legislators-advocates/
"Meanwhile, opposition to the White House’s proposed LIHEAP cuts is already taking shape in the Senate. Last week, 31 lawmakers asked Obama’s top budget official to reconsider the LIHEAP reductions as word leaked out of the plan.

The lawmakers, including Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., argued that millions of Americans would have to reduce spending on food, health care, and other vital needs if heating bills consumed more of their paychecks. Also among the signers were several Senate Republicans, including Scott Brown of Massachusetts and Susan Collins of Maine.

Collins said she thought Obama proposed the cut because he knows Congress would block it. “I can’t believe it’s a serious proposal,” she said, comparing it to “cutting the football team when you know it’s going to be restored.”

Indeed, observers say there’s a strong bipartisan constituency in Congress for LIHEAP, which also provides cooling assistance to the poor.

“People that live all across the Northern tier of the country get it and air conditioning is a huge factor in the South,” said Rep. John Larson, D-1st District. “So I think there’s ample room to find the right coalition to carry the day.”

Wein agreed that LIHEAP is “not a just blue state program.” But she and others still predicted a big fight ahead, saying the significant support doesn’t guarantee a victory at a time when policymakers on both sides of the aisle are looking for big budget cuts."

[VermontKevin]

41. All of your sources argue the possibles, not what happened.

Look, I am not saying that cutting this program is a good thing.

I think that cutting it when people are in need is a bad thing.

But making the program pegged to fuel pricing like President Obama did is good policy,

Trump is a vindictive asshole.

[Midnight Writer]

26. "Congressional opposition" means saying "tut tut" and then voting for it anyway

[Docreed2003]

27. Having lived in New England, and this is purely my own experience...

Heating costs can be astronomical...whether you're on natural gas, propane, or heating oil.

What the administration is proposing is fucking cruel, to say the least, and draconian at best!

People in the northeast rely on these subsidies. So we should just let grandma and grandpa die because they can't afford their heating bills? Not to mention the younger Americans who would face the same fate! Should they freeze in the winter just because they can't pay and need subsidy??


We were lucky when we lived in NE...I had a great job and had the resources to pay when our gas got low and even when we ran out during a blizzard. We'd call our company up and they'd come out and fill up the tanks, even in the midst of a big snowstorm! We were lucky...most people aren't so lucky. Cutting off this funding would be incredibly cold hearted, no pun indented, on the administration's part

[Hieronymus]

29. It's obvious why Trump has a crush on Putin.

He loves the Nationalistic, authoritarian thing.

[DFW]

31. I think the AP has a position open for a new proofreader

"the brittle New England winter?"

Yeah, those New England winters need to be handled with care, or they'll shatter like glass.

BITTER, you clowns. I heard that the AP had taken a rightward bent a while ago, but if they're going to write their articles in Republicanese, they should warn their readers ahead of time.

[Bengus81]

32. Looking under every couch cushion for CASH to give to the top 1%

Someone DIES with no health care--tough,same thing here. Let me guess,guys who cut firewood are probably happy.

[Astraea]

36. better start choppin' wood, grandpa

[TomCADem]

37. White House - The Working Class "Chooses" to Freeze to Death...

...it is just a matter of time before this healthcare talking point is adapted.

[Initech]

38. Why are they such fucking dicks????