Kerry Urges Obama To Reconsider Cutting Energy Assistance For Poor

[democracy1st]

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) wrote a letter to Obama asking him not to drop funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) by about $3 billion.

"I understand that difficult cuts have to be made," the Massachusetts Democrat wrote. "But in the middle of a brutal, even historic, New England winter, home heating assistance is more critical than ever to the health and welfare of millions of Americans, especially senior citizens. I request that the administration preserve LIHEAP funding at least to the Fiscal Year 2010 funding at $5.1 billion when it submits its FY12 budget proposal to Congress."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/09/obama-poor-energy-cuts-kerry-letter_n_821061.html

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[RKP5637]

2. Need it for the war efforts! n/t

[NCarolinawoman]

3. Good for John Kerry! n/t

[QC]

4. Kerry has been taken in by transparently bad journalism!

:sarcasm:

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

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[davidinalameda]

5. I'm writing my congress critters

this can't be allowed to stand

[WillyT]

7. K & R !!!

:kick:

[somone]

8. It's sickening that a Democratic senator had to ASK a Democratic president

to PLEASE do not let our poor elderly citizens freeze to death.

[jillan]

10. It is unbelievable, isn't it? Silly me, I always thought the Dems were for the people.

What was I thinking?????????????????????????????:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[RKP5637]

13. You were thinking of the old democratic party. In today's US people are in the way. n/t

[Bluebear]

24. More sickening, he'll probably get a "no". nt

[ProSense]

9. Kerry's letter

The President

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20502

Dear Mr. President:

I am writing to express my deep concern about the potential for extreme cuts in the Low Income Home Energy Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that – judging by today’s news reports – may be included in the administration’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2012.

I understand that difficult cuts have to be made, and from Gramm-Rudman deficit reduction to the 1993 deficit reduction act I’ve always supported serious efforts to restore fiscal sanity, but in the middle of a brutal, even historic, New England winter, home heating assistance is more critical than ever to the health and welfare of millions of Americans, especially senior citizens. I request that the administration preserve LIHEAP funding at least to the Fiscal Year 2010 funding at $5.1 billion when it submits its FY12 budget proposal to Congress.

We simply cannot afford to cut LIHEAP funding during one of the most brutal winters in history. Families across Massachusetts, and the country, depend on these monies to heat their homes and survive the season. It is estimated that over 3 million families that qualify for heating assistance would not receive it if the funding levels are not maintained. Compounding the situation is the increased cost of home heating oil, which is roughly 12 percent higher than last year.

LIHEAP is already strained as it is – I have submitted requests for that last several years to increase the overall funding because the assistance didn’t match the need. Cutting the program now would be devastating to the Northeast that depends on this support. If an increase is not an option we must do everything we can not to leave children and families out in the cold.

I again request that you maintain level funding at $5.1 billion for the LIHEAP program and provide vital heating assistance this winter. Thank you for your consideration.



Sincerely,

John F. Kerry

[jillan]

11. Let's just hope he listens to Kerry, not Boner.

[blm]

29. This letter shouldn't have NEEDED to be written. DAMN those taxcuts for the wealthiest.

Shame and hellfire on those seeking to balance the budget on the backs of the working class and the poor.

[bananas]

32. k&r nt

[Danger Mouse]

12. Fucking disgraceful, and I don't mean Senator Kerry.

[Divine Discontent]

14. embarrassing, to say the least, and I do mean the least... And, a big Thank You to Sen. Kerry! n/t

[Danger Mouse]

18. Agreed. Senator Kerry is standing up for what is right. Let's hope President Obama does the same.

[Divine Discontent]

19. let's hope Sen. Kerry brings him to the good side of this dire issue for tens of thousands

Also, here in FL gov. scott has proposed a budget that is going to cut medicaid by millions, and really do a doozie on education, and he's also proposed cutting corporate taxes even further. I don't know what the politicians are thinking when they go after programs that are for the least of these in society, the children, the sick, the poor, the elderly.... so saddening.

[RKP5637]

20. They always go after the ones that can't fight back and generally don't give them

much money in contributions. It's always the same story, go after the poor, disadvantaged and disenfranchised and reward the wealthy.

[Amonester]

25. So tired of hoping hopelessly.

I hope this whole screwup is not true.

[whathehell]

27. +100...n/t

[undeterred]

15. Obama's cuts to the poor are shameful.

[leftstreet]

16. The Admin is damn lucky it's a fellow Democrat who's asking

Once a Republican goes there, the Democrats are in big trouble

[Forkboy]

17. Let them eat Hope.

[ScreamingMeemie]

28. That is perfect. I wish we could "like" things on here.

[politicasista]

21. Interesting

This idea doesn't sound good (cutting heating from the poor) but some are applauding President Obama for being the grown up in the room making the hard choices. :shrug: The spin on this is the subsides for the poor?

[defendandprotect]

23. K/R --

[BlueCheese]

26. There aren't many New England Republicans...

... but I wonder what they'll say. Snowe? Collins? The three newly elected ones from New Hampshire?

[quinnox]

30. Maybe other Democrats will start speaking out like Sen. Kerry

And good for Kerry to stand up for traditional Democratic party principles. Obama is starting to lose his way and maybe some core leading Democrats like Kerry can help him find the way back to the Democratic party before its too late.

[usregimechange]

31. kick