Kerry, New England Senators Call on Bush to Increase Energy Assistance

[kerrygoddess]

Kerry, New England Senators Call on Bush Administration to Increase Energy Assistance for Low Income Families, Seniors
October 14th, 2005

I’ve been following the developments on the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding issues in the wake of the high oil prices and today there were a couple of stories on that, that should be noted…

First is a story in the Boston Globe that reports that the “Bush administration has endorsed a Senate plan to close the Boston regional office of the US Department of Energy, which distributed tens of millions of dollars last year to help low-income New Englanders make their homes more energy-efficient.”

Though New Englanders would continue to be eligible for DOE grants, elected officials as well as the nonprofit agencies that administer the grant programs expressed concern that closing the Boston office would make it more difficult for local groups to apply for conservation grants, which they then distribute to eligible homeowners.

Under the Senate proposal endorsed by President Bush, Boston’s DOE office would be merged into a larger facility based in Morgantown, W. Va., which would serve the entire Eastern United States. Overall, the plan would combine six current regional offices into two larger offices. The plan drew fire from New England elected officials as the region braces for huge increases in the cost of home heating oil.

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[Montauk6]

1. Is it just me or has Kerry been one busy beaver lately?

Go 'head, John!!!

:toast: :kick: :dem: :yourock: :woohoo: :applause:

[MH1]

3. It's not just you.

Kerry is one very determined guy, and he really is trying to get things done that actually help people. Too bad most people's eyes glaze over when actual nuts-and-bolts policy decisions are the topic.

[zulchzulu]

6. Ah, John hasn't been doing anything since the election...

Kidding...

:mad:

http://kerry.senate.gov/v3/cfm/press-statement.cfm

[mcctatas]

2. You know what really pisses me off...

"energy assistance" (which I sincerely believe is a wonderful program, and I agree it needs to be increased), is just another way for the bushfucks to subsidize their rich friends in big oil, plus they get the added benefit of appearing compassionate...seems like this is the only social program these asshats have substantially increased over the last 5 years is the one that uses government funds to pay off the greedy oil pigs!!!:grr:

[kerrygoddess]

4. Energy assisstance has been around for decades

Might have been Carter who started it. It has not been substantially increased, that is why Kerry is pushing this.

[mcctatas]

5. I realize it has been around for a very long time (my state got an extra

6 million $'s last year for it, I'm not sure if it was extra state or federal funds though), the problem with it now that oil men are running the nation is that nothing is done to address the issue of corporate greed, and then people bitch about the poor getting $ to stay alive in winter. It frosts my wheaties that they funnel more money to their greedy buddies rather than doing something like <gasp> regulation of oil profits!!!!!