LIHEAP cuts

[cali]

Those repuke fuckwads:

<snip>

One of the last must-do measures on the agenda before Congress adjourns for the year, the appropriations bill would prevent a 40 percent cut in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Vermont’s $10.8 million share would help keep senior citizens on fixed incomes, families with children and the disabled warm this winter.

The critical funding for Vermont is in danger, however, because some Republicans have mounted a filibuster in the Senate and even threatened to require the entire 1,924-page bill to be read aloud on the Senate floor.

Sanders said, “At a time when heating oil prices are skyrocketing, we have got to pass the omnibus appropriations bill so that no one in Vermont goes cold this winter. Without these additional funds, seniors and low-income Americans in Vermont and throughout the country will find themselves facing very painful choices on how to stretch already stretched budgets.”

Leahy said, “In Vermont, where our winter temperatures average below freezing and the lows dip into the single digits, our low-income families, Vermonters with disabilities and senior citizens should not be forced to decide between paying their home energy bills or affording basic necessities such as food, rent, or prescription drugs. Heat in winter is a necessity, not an option. At a time when we are trying to help Americans recover from the Great Recession, some in Congress from warmer states like South Carolina and Arizona would rather use the Senate’s limited time to give enormous tax breaks to multi-millionaires rather than help America’s most needy and vulnerable households.”

Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) said, “Now is not the time to play political games with the safety and well-being of low-income Americans. For Vermonters who rely upon heating assistance to make it through a cold winter, this sort of stalling tactic is deplorable. LIHEAP should be fully funded – and it should be fully funded now.”

Federal funding for the heating assistance program was nearly doubled in the last two years under a provision sponsored by Sanders. Leahy cosponsored that 2008 legislation and Welch sponsored companion legislation that year in the House.

So far this year, Vermont has only received a total of $14.8 million for LIHEAP, compared to the $25.6 million in regular funding it received last year and will receive if the majority in the Senate can overcome a Republican filibuster.

<snip>

http://www.vermontbiz.com/news/december/vermonts-108-million-additional-heating-aid-blocked-senate-republicans

[Donnachaidh]

1. jesus h. christ on a cracker

LIHEAP is so frigging important. And this year (so far) has shown that we may very well have people dying in their homes, for lack of utilities.

LIHEAP bailed us out last year. It's outrageous that more hostage-taking is happening. :grr:

[cali]

2. And is this getting any national coverage?

No, of course not.

[Donnachaidh]

3. I'll have to check in my area -- but we just put a governor in play who is a CROOK

And is already announcing cuts to education and everything else he can't make a dime on.

[cali]

4. kick. this is important- and outrageous.

[mike_c]

5. spending LIHEAP funds is what my partner does for a living....

She works for one of the oldest community action agencies in America, the Redwood Community Action Agency. LIHEAP is one of the backbones of the services they offer low income families. It's a terrible shame to see it at risk like this. Bailouts for bankers, but less than nothing for the poor. Shameful!

[cali]

6. Yep. Community Action Agencies do yeoman's work

They administer the LIHEAP funds here too.

If these funds don't get dispersed, there is NO doubt that people will freeze and die from asphyxiation and fires.

[TwilightGardener]

7. Well, I thought the omnibus bill was scrapped, so I guess LIHEAP will be cut.