Sunday, October 28, 2007

First SCHIP Now LIHEAP



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About 30 million low-income American households who will need help paying heating bills this winter from a U.S. government program will be left in the cold because of a lack of funding for the program.

The poor, already digging deep to pay for expensive gasoline, also will face much higher heating fuel costs, especially if oil prices stay near record levels.

Consumer groups and state energy officials have sounded the alarm, saying a federal program to help poor families pay heating bills will have nowhere near the money needed to cover those expected to seek assistance...

Still, the administration did not back away from its threat to veto legislation to boost funding for LIHEAP to levels it has called too high.

LIHEAP has an interim annual budget of $2.16 billion, but the White House wants to cut the program to $1.78 billion for the 2008 spending year that began on October 1.

The House of Representatives has passed legislation to boost the program to $2.66 billion, while a Senate committee has cleared a bill keeping LIHEAP at its current $2.16 billion budget.

We are already looking at another veto of the SCHIP bill that this President has promised us. Now we are looking at the possible veto of the heating bill for low income families.

Just maybe if this President started to spend less on his war, he would do more for the people of this country. Tell me what is right America, should the government stop using our tax dollars to take care of our children healthcare and the poor people heat in the winter? Does the government spend too much of Americans tax dollar helping the poor, when it should be spent to defend our country?

What say you?

12 comments:

The Future Was Yesterday said...

Republicans (for as long as I've been alive) have labored to cut social programs out of Government, until now, it's became a mantra. "Let them pull themselves up by their own bootstraps. Never mind they can't afford boots.

That's the only area this psychopath has acted like a Republican. In all other areas...white is black and up is down.

LET'S TALK said...

I hear that Mrs. Bush feels the same as does George.

In_Flight said...

I just don't understand how in the hell the Bush administration can cut 30 million plus jobs, then throw the working poor table scraps to pay heating bills. UGGGGG!!!!

Mary Ellen said...

I was just talking to my mom about the high cost of heating oil that is expected this winter. Senior citizens who are on a fixed income are really being hurt by the high cost of oil which is causing everything to go up. Their grocery bills are almost double what they used to be and prescription drugs have gone up, too. They have social security and maybe, if they're lucky, a small pension. What really kills me is AARP supported Bush and duped a lot of them into voting for Bush and his administration. The Seniors didn't realize that AARP are large contributors to the Republican party.

The Bush gang are all a bunch of elitist snobs who have never had to work for what they have. They make me sick.

Anonymous said...

Congress needs to cut off funding for Iraqmire. If they do that, Bush at least won't be able to talk about lack of money to help Americans with health coverage and utility bills.

The bottom line in all these issues is that Congress needs a spine and some integrity. Everybody knows what an asshole Bush is. But the fact that more than a third of Congress votes with him is even more appalling.

Larry said...

Another in a series of plans to destroy the well being of Americans, while enabling the wealthy to garner more profit.

LET'S TALK said...

phil_in_ny, Bush wants every penny for his war.

Mary Ellen, I never thought about Laura Bush before, but as she stated yesterday, she would only vote for a Republican woman makes no sense to me.

She is always talking about women this and women that, then to make such a statement tells me that she will only be concerned with Republican women here in America.

LET'S TALK said...

Tom Harper, I agree, what a Congress we have right now. It's as if they are afraid of this man.

Larry, you are right, under this President, only the rich gets richer.

Anonymous said...

People need to rally at the local level, and forget about the Federal government.

Many states have a "Cold Weather Law," which makes it illegal for energy companies to shut off people's power during the Winter months.

Remember, Neo-cons believe the government is "bad," and they are trying to convince everyone this is the case. They are destroying the government.

Washington is of no help to the average schmo anymore, but state officials are still beholden to us.

LET'S TALK said...

I guess that depends on which State one is from fairlane.

I don't know the program, but Georgia does have some type of assistance with utility bills.

Fran said...

$2.66 billion for emergency home heating assistance? Shocking, I tell you shocking! Bush just asked for and received $150 billion for another supplimental for war, and a month later is asking for an additional $46 billion- to "support the troops".
The SCHIP & LIHEAP budgetary requests are relative drop-in-the-bucket amounts of money, comparatively. We the people should demand Mr. Bush be vetoed via Impeachment. Sad thing is, those most in need of these important services, are least able to fight & lobby for them.
There has to be a special place in hell for the likes of Bush- a 21st century Scrooge. Bush makes the (pre change of heart) Grinch look like a nice guy!

LET'S TALK said...

fran, he started off telling us about working together and bringing both parties and this country together.

He seems to have got things together for the rich and left all others out in the cold, while separating the two party system that we have even more.