Elderly having problems paying heating bills (Santorum Comments)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/business/s_411202.html

Demand for federal heating assistance grants in Pennsylvania is up by 5 percent so far this winter. That means 17,290 more low-income residents have asked for help with their natural gas or other fuel bills.

But the total 322,028 applications for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program grants still may represent only a fraction of the residents -- many older -- struggling to pay heating bills that rose by as much as 50 percent this year.

"We do have a problem in the here and now that is imminent," Fred Griesbach, director of AARP in Pennsylvania, told Sen. Rick Santorum Friday at a hearing the Penn Hills Republican chaired on home heating costs, and their impact on the elderly.

<snip>

Santorum said after the two-hour hearing he was pleased to hear about corporate efforts to help low-income residents keep their heating service, and noted that with the state's first-ever allocation to LIHEAP this fall Pennsylvania will have $173 million to distribute.

"We do need more energy assistance money. We have to do it, though, within a tight budget," he said.

[shraby]

1. That 200 million for the Alaskan bridge would

go quit a distance to help with heating bills. That's more than they have allocated for Pennsylvania so far.
Shame on Ted Stevens for his bridge too far.

[Toots]

12. I think some of that bridge money will go to heat Alaskan homes instead

Remember Congress allotted the same amount of money just took away the earmarks. Now Alaska can spend that money however it wishes and I would imagine heating bills up there have risen also..They may have Oil up there but every bit of it is exported....and all heating oil in Alaska is imported..freight costs are extraordinary in Alaska. In some remote communities the cost of receiving oil is more than the cost of buying it. In many remote sites the cost of heating fuel is well over five dollars a gallon.

[babylonsister]

2. Another POS. I'm beyond disgusted. No taxes for his ilk,

so heat is negotiable. :eyes:

[NanceGreggs]

3. Heat the homes of those who need it ...

... and send the tab to Halliburton. They've taken billions in taxpayers' dollars, and "can't seem to account for" millions of it, and how it was spent.

I'm sure Halliburton is 100% honest, and will "find" the missing funds any day now -- and God knows, they'll be THRILLED to spend it on something worthwhile!

[Erika]

4. Why shouldn't the taxes we pay go to help the needy

rather than give tax breaks to the corporations, so they may or may not, help the needy? The republicans have turned priorities upside down in this country. Take care of the rich, in hopes the rich will be "kind enough" to give some to the poor? That's stupid. The rich have always seen to it that their needs are met first, no matter how outlandish. W has only given them more.

[Conservativesux]

8. But the Rich are needy. They need your labor and your tax dollars..

to keep thier house of cards from folding up.

[dchill]

11. Because that would violate...

core conservative principles. If you have money, it's because you deserve it - if you don't, it's because you don't deserve it. Hallelujah! Praise Supply-side Jesus!

[Mind_your_head]

5. oh geez.....

Santorum said...he was pleased to hear about corporate efforts to help low-income residents keep their heating service

Rick, we want to hear what our GOVERNMENT's efforts to help low-income residents keep their heat on is. Corporations have no particular responsiblity to citizens (although it's really nice/good will when they contribute).

Our GOVERNMENT has responsibility to the citizens, and Rick you ARE a SENATOR of our government, so what's your PLAN OF ACTION to help people keep the heat on this winter?

I hope you're not saying, well, "I helped out the corporations so they better start digging in their pockets for this" no..., no...ain't gonna fly, son.

[bluestateguy]

6. By time politicians finish fiddling around, winter will be over...

After Subcommittee B has their hearings, votes on the legislation, sends it to the full House, they debate it, vote on it, then send it to the Senate (where this process is repeated), it then goes to the White House. Assuming the bill is signed, then there is more plodding and paper pushing while we wait for the bureaucrats to get their act together.

Point is, winter will be all but over by the time the paper pushing and deliberation is all done.

There are times when I wish I was supreme, absolute dictator of the United States.

[Divernan]

7. So he's taking credit for "state"(that's Dem. Gov. Rendell) contribution?

The "corporate" contribution is Equitable Gas, for one - a provider in Western PA. So big deal, it's making a million or so available for partial assistance to those who are SLIGHTLY above poverty level AND already delinquent in payments and would have their gas service disconnected in the middle of winter? IF they are informed enough and mentally capable to apply for assistance? Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, this is the first winter since all the energy suppliers successfully lobbied/bribed the Repub. majority state house and senate to revoke the law which prevented energy suppliers from disconnecting ANYONE for non-payment of heating bills until April of each year. And Dem. Governor Rendell should have vetoed the damn legislation!

PA has the highest number of senior citizens in the country after Florida. Florida doesn't have to worry about seniors freezing to death in winter weather. Of course a lot of them won't freeze to death if they choose to forego their prescription drugs and food in order to pay their heating bill. My bill for a 3 bedroom ranch with brand new insulated Pella windows was $376 for November!
Elderly living in drafty old homes will have even higher bills.

Santorum is a heartless, greedy bastard who is only out for himself.

[Trajan]

9. GOP response ....

FUCK them ..... This is the MARKETPLACE, damn it ..

It will correct itself .... Now how bout a nice DHS contract to spy on your momma ? ...

[Cobalt Violet]

10. They'll be saying the elderly chose not to heat their homes.

Just like the Katrina victims chose not to evacuate.

[Nomen Tuum]

13. Where are the churches?

Gee, Ricky gave them all those bribes, er, faith-ba$ed money to take care of the needy. I once again ask why are the churches not stepping in and paying these bills like Ricky said they would?

[go west young man]

14. err, aren't Ricky and the GOP the ones who duped them in the first place?

[Marthe48]

15. we are ALL having trouble paying our heating bills

The oil/gas industry made 40% profits over last year. They are secrewing us sideways, but have the effrontry to send us crap in our bill envelopes about how to save energy and asking if we want to help the poor pay their bills. I want the energy cos. to stop being such mealy-mouthed hypocrites and stop gouging their fellow citizens no matter what age they are. If they are so damned concerned about keeping old people warm, stop collecting obscene profits and sell their product for a fair price. But oh no, that would eat into their record profit margins and the CEOs wouldn't be able to buy mink-lined underwear--or whatever anybody needs all the money in the world for.
Bastards.

[zann725]

16. You can tell it's election year. Even Santorum cares about the needy...

briefly.

[Doctor_J]

17. The ballerina who's running for gov wants to enact more cuts

looks like he and Ricky need to get on th esame page.