by BabyPeanut » Sun 02 Oct 2005, 23:35:01
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jdmartin', 'W')hat's amazing to me is that when I sold that house, no one wanted or cared about the fact that I used upgraded insulation, etc.
Will they still be as foolish after the natural gas crisis this winter?
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'D')ear Gentlemen,
Even before the tragic devastation of the Gulf Coast, low-income residents in our states faced significant increases in energy costs this winter. In this light, and with the added consideration of the hurricanes' impact, we are writing to request additional funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). We ask that you provide an immediate $1.276 billion in emergency LIHEAP funds in the next available emergency supplemental appropriations bill. These funds are necessary to meet the needs of both newly-displaced evacuees and existing LIHEAP recipients. For Fiscal Year 2006, we would urge that you increase regular LIHEAP funds significantly from current levels. The recent increase in LIHEAP authorization to $5.1B, signed into law last month as part of the Energy Policy Act, provides adequate room for a substantial increase.
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) had projected consumer energy costs would rise by about 20 percent this winter. The EIA has recently updated its figures and is now projecting that costs will be 77 percent higher than last winter. Consequently, our state LIHEAP programs are expecting to see a surge in applications for the program. LIHEAP budgets will be further stretched as we attempt to meet the needs of hurricane evacuees, many of whom lost virtually everything in the storm. Additional funding will allow us to aid these newest residents and those who have traditionally relied on LIHEAP assistance.
Congress must recognize that covering dramatic increases in natural gas and heating oil prices will pose an immense challenge for our citizens as winter arrives. Therefore, we encourage you to give strong consideration to the above requests. Immediate emergency funding, and a significant increase in regular LIHEAP funding for FY 2006, would allow critical energy needs to be addressed before a crisis develops. We also feel strongly that Congress should ensure that these additional funds are distributed to all states based on residents' demonstrated needs.
We appreciate your work and commitment to assisting our neediest families and we urge you to increase funding for LIHEAP.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Governor Jennifer Granholm, Michigan
Governor Mitt Romney, Massachusetts
Governor Mike Huckabee, Arkansas
Governor Ruth Ann Minner, Delaware
Governor Rod Blagojevich, Illinois
Governor Thomas Vilsack, Iowa
Governor Kathleen Sebelius, Kansas
Governor John Baldacci, Maine
Governor Robert Ehrlich, Maryland
Governor Tim Pawlenty, Minnesota
Governor Haley Barbour, Mississippi
Governor Brian Schweitzer, Montana
Governor Richard Codey, New Jersey
Governor Bill Richardson,New Mexico
Governor George Pataki, New York
Governor Michael Easley, North Carolina
Governor Bob Taft, Ohio
Governor Ted Kulongoski, Oregon
Governor Edward Rendell, Pennsylvania
Governor Anibal Acevedo-Vila, Puerto Rico
Governor Don Carcieri, Rhode Island
Governor James H. Douglas, Vermont
Governor Mark Warner, Virginia
Governor Christine Gregoire, Washington
Governor Joe Manchin III , W. Virginia
Governor Jim Doyle,Wisconsin
Governor Dave Freudenthal, Wyoming
Governor M. Jodi Rell, Connecticut