Kerry Fights to Keep the Heat on for Low Income Families This Winter

[kerrygoddess]

Kerry Fights to Keep the Heat on for Low Income Families This Winter
October 5th, 2005

As the Bush administration is urging cutbacks on Food Stamps, Medicaid and other aid to poor and low income familes, John Kerry is fighting to keep the heat on on this winter for the poor and low income families. With American’s facing record prices for gas, oil, and propane this winter, the Bush administration has offered a paltry amount of assisstance for those who need it most. What should be obvious to all at this point is, George W. Bush is no friend to the little people; John Kerry is.

WASHINGTON - Today, Senator John Kerry (D - Mass.) offered an amendment to the Department of Defense Appropriations Bill that will deliver $3.1 billion of emergency funding to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The Bush Administration’s budget only requested $2 billion in LIHEAP funding. This amendment will allocate the necessarily $3.1 billion to bring LIHEAP funding to $5.1 billion, the level authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

This year American families are facing record prices for gas, oil, and propane, and the devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita has made these prices increase. The Department of Energy projects major increases in heating bills this winter heating season. Families in the Midwest could face a 69-77% increase in the price of natural gas and 39-43% increase for propane, families in the South could expect a 17-18% increase for electricity costs and families in the Northeast could face a 29-33% increase in the price of heating oil. These costs pose a crisis to low-income households this winter, and ensuring full funding of LIHEAP is one important step to lessening the burden on these families.

“For some families - especially low income families and seniors - this crisis in heating prices will mean a choice between a heated home or food on the table.

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