Bush veto hits heating bill aid program for poor

[ProSense]

Bush veto hits heating bill aid program for poor

By Tom Doggett

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Low-income U.S. families planning to rely on a federal program to help pay expensive heating bills this winter are in jeopardy after President George W. Bush on Tuesday vetoed spending legislation that would have provided the financial assistance.

Bush rejected the compromise appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, which also contained $2.4 billion in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, commonly known as LIHEAP.

Bush's veto puts "the health and well-being of millions of families at risk this winter," said Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, chairman of a House Education and Labor subcommittee, which held a hearing on Tuesday on the LIHEAP program.

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With prices forecast to be up for all heating fuels this winter, the poor will need LIHEAP assistance more than ever.

The Energy Department forecasts that households that use heating oil will spend an average 26 percent or $375 more this winter compared to last winter, with costs for propane expected to be 20 percent or $273 higher, natural gas up 11 percent or $87 and electricity 3 percent or $22 more expensive.

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[rodeodance]

1. WHY aren't the DEMS yelling from the ROOFTOPS?

[AuntPatsy]

12. Even the republicans should be yelling, if they foolishly believe all their followers

will not bear the brunt of so many of these cuts they are the most foolish by far or the most uncaring I would guess.

[cali]

14. Whoa.

First of all, they already are, and secondly, it just happened. Pelosi has already come out with a clear and harsh statement, and believe me, my reps and other northern state reps will be doing the same by tomorrow. Vermont is heavily dependent on LIHEAP, as are all other cold weather states. And it won't just be dems, is my guess.

[rodeodance]

2. REC

[Disturbed]

3. In a private convo Busholini said that the poor should go to

to the thrift store & buy used winter clothes & gloves. The poor should help out the economy by buying things.

[Bitwit1234]

4. hE'S DOING HIS PART TO WEED OUT THE DEMOCRATS

If he can kill them all off the republicans might win.

[Neecy]

5. bastard.

[southern_belle]

6. I wish we could all see

when karma turns around and bites him in the ass. :shrug:

[smoogatz]

7. Let 'em freeze!

If they wanted to live through the winter, they shouldn't have been poor in the first place.

Christ, Bush is a prick. He really doesn't give a rat's ass about anything other than money (his and his friends') and power (ditto).

[VP505]

8. IMHO there can

be very good reasons to veto some spending bills, heating assistance for the poor is NOT one of them. This veto is nothing less than a President being A MEAN SPIRITED ASSHOLE. What makes it doubly so is the thought that regardless of where he is sitting on his dumb ass all through the winter, he will be warm and comfortable, paid for by the taxpayers.

[C_U_L8R]

9. George Bush hates......people

what a despicable despot he is.

[PA Democrat]

10. Wow. More of that infamous "compassionate conservatism" at work.

Bush is a cruel sick piece of crap.

[Disturbed]

11. " George Bush hates......people."

Busholini doesn't hate all people. Only the ones that don't kiss his ass.

As for the poor, he believes that they are poor because they are lazy.

[marmar]

13. What a mound of hippo dung he is.......

:mad:

[cynatnite]

15. But do we have enough money to wage war?

:sarcasm:

[ProSense]

16. Kerry on Bush's veto:

Kerry on Bush's veto:

"Today President Bush’s veto jeopardized access to home heating oil assistance, health care, job training and education assistance for tens of thousands of people across Massachusetts. As the cost of oil is skyrockets, vetoing $630 million in additional funding to help more elderly and working poor families in Massachusetts afford heating oil is downright dangerous. The President's veto also threatens to put an end to an additional $4.5 billion in educational funding for our children, an additional $1.3 billion for those who need job training and $1.5 billion to improve health care access. This veto is wrong for America, dangerous for Massachusetts, and it calls out for an override."

[Tsiyu]

17. And the WSJ says "Bush Hating" is mental illness?

Mental illness is NOT hating such a greedy, heartless, morally bankrupt human being.

Mental illness is IGNORING this veto and IGNORING the suffering that veto will bring.

Mental illness is when you know there is a way to help an elderly person have a bit of heat this winter, but you say "no!" because your rich buddies want more $$$$$$$$to stuff in their graves...

[PinkyisBlue]

18. When the poor children go to the emergency room for health care,

they will have access to the heat in the ER waiting room.

If the poor people were not fortunate to be born into a rich family or are not corrupt enough to take advantage of the system like Bush's cronies, they deserve to freeze in the winter. It's their own fault. :sarcasm:

[yoyossarian]

19. In the midnight hour, he cries MO MO MO!

Oh well... at least he's consistent...

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