Obama Proposes 50% Cut to LIHEAP .... Where is the Public Outcry?

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama wants to cut $2.5 billion from a $5 billion home heating aid program for the poor, two people familiar with his 2012 budget proposal said Wednesday, halving the popular fund as he looks for places to rein in federal spending.

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The total number of households to receive assistance this fiscal year is projected at 8.8 million, up by almost 15 percent or 1.2 million from last year’s record of 7.7 million. Record levels are being reported by states across all parts of the country. Applications are up by more than 20 percent in the following 17 states: 25 percent or greater: Mississippi (68 percent ), Washington (42 percent ), Michigan (38 percent ), Nevada (34 percent ), New Jersey (31 percent ), West Virginia (28 percent ), Colorado (26 percent ) Kansas, New Hampshire and Wisconsin (25 percent ) 20 percent to 24 percent : Montana (21 percent ), California, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas and Rhode Island (20 percent ).

(source)

MSM doesn't seem too concerned over what this means to the lower class and even struggling middle class Americans. People who live in the northern half of the US, and even some in many Southern states, have experienced brutal cold snaps and very nasty record snowfall in the 2010-2011 winter season. Its not just the poor, uneducated, unemployed citizens that have a dire need for heating assistance....Many families that bring in 2 or more weekly paychecks, have also seen the dire need for this assistance. Reports have shown, that this winter season, has seen the highest number of people applying for LIHEAP nationwide. Read one Report here.

Some will say that people who apply for LIHEAP, are too lazy to earn a paycheck to cover the bills. Well, those who say that, are wrong. What about the people who are in their 80's? Or the people who have physical disabilities so severe that they can never work at a job? Or even the people who DO work very hard every day and STILL can't afford the heating bills? Does Obama OR this Government care about them? I don't believe so.

Sure, the Obama Budget still has to be passed by the Congress and Senate. But, what if this 50% Cut to LIHEAP goes through? The huge number of citizens who will suffer from this come next winter, is sad and unimaginable.

So.... where is the public outcry? Where are the potential victims of this proposed cut? Are they waiting until it gets passed and signed in to Law, before they bang the drums of protest? Or have they given up, feeling powerless to change anything.

The Government DOES need to cut their spending...but not from the programs that help our senior citizens, handicapped and struggling citizens, to keep warm when it dips to -20F in January. This is just nonsense, and its NOT the way to save money.

Survival of the fittest. It's getting uglier by the minute.

Well you didn't think he would take a pay cut did you?

He's betting on Global Warming to heat their homes.

There won't be a major public outcry because the news center's around who won grammy's, what celebrities are sleeping together, and other non-important b.s.

President Obama said what happened in Egypt is Good, But I hope you American's do not get the wrong image or message from those words, if YOU try that....believe in what I tell you, You will NOT succeed.

reply to post by Anonymous Avatar

Its not about pay cuts. Its about stealing aid from GOOD programs that benefit people who, otherwise, would freeze to death, literally, without that help.

If it were a conservative doing it, it'd be front page news.
But a progressive?

Meh.

Maybe Obama's hoping that hope and change and useless rhetoric will keep them warm.

Oh, to add, since the republicans control the house, it'll be their fault anyway.

Originally posted by Ronin22
There won't be a major public outcry because the news center's around who won grammy's, what celebrities are sleeping together, and other non-important b.s.

President Obama said what happened in Egypt is Good, But I hope you American's do not get the wrong image or message from those words, if YOU try that....believe in what I tell you, You will NOT succeed.

edit on 15-2-2011 by Ronin22 because: spelling

edit on 15-2-2011 by Ronin22 because: spelling

By all means, I am not suggesting we do what the people of Egypt did. I know how messy that would be. But, where is the "average Joe" to complain and beg for reconsideration of this proposal? If this passes, at least 2-3 Million people may go without any kind of LIHEAP to stay warm next winter.

This is where the Republicans and good ole christian churches, charities and citizens need to step up to the plate and practice what they preach and have always preached; they should help the poor, help the needy, not governments

Republicans have always preached it is not the governments responsibility but the churches and charities to do that... Obamas announcement should make the Republicans super warm and happy

I thought Obama put a freeze on Pay and some other Department Spending for 5 years?

Originally posted by Ellen15
This is where the Republicans and good ole christian churches, charities and citizens need to step up to the plate and practice what they preach and have always preached; they should help the poor, help the needy, not governments

Republicans have always preached it is not the governments responsibility but the churches and charities to do that... Obamas announcement should make the Republicans super warm and happy

Great idea! Really. We need to show that we DON'T NEED D.C.!!!

I thought Obama put a freeze on Pay and some other Department Spending for 5 years?

He did. Nice trick. By putting a "freeze" on some departments their budgets cannot go up, but they can't be decreased either.

DC two-step.

cha-cha-cha

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama wants to cut $2.5 billion from a $5 billion home heating aid program for the poor, two people familiar with his 2012 budget proposal said Wednesday, halving the popular fund as he looks for places to rein in federal spending.

The proposal would cut the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to its 2008 level of about $2.5 billion.

The individuals, including a congressional aide who was briefed on the proposal, discussed the details on condition of anonymity because Obama's spending plan has not been issued. It was being released on Monday, and covers the budget year beginning Oct. 1.

Separately, House Republicans on Wednesday outlined a plan for $35 billion in immediate spending cuts that would practically eliminate the program's contingency fund, cutting it by $400 million.

The fund totaled $490 million, according to the program's website.

Source: news.yahoo.com...

reply to post by Ellen15


I agree that DC shouldn't be a crutch for those who need help paying their heating bills. However, most small community churches and organizations won't be able to step up and help everyone. I feel bad for the 79 year old grandmother who lives alone and finds out in December of 2011, that she can't get help from LIHEAP in the following year. I feel bad for the millions of grandmothers who will get that same notice from their county/state LIHEAP program provider. Sure, some will be able to get help from their area church, senior centers or even family. But what about those who won't be that lucky?

reply to post by MadDogtheHunter


Hmm I paid $189 last month to heat my house and paid over 20k in taxes.. where the effing hell was my government to pay my bill?

Oh.. I have to be poor and unproductive....

Screw government and all of their garbage and wasteful spending. The Federal government should never be paying anyones power/gas bills

Originally posted by MadDogtheHunter

Originally posted by Ronin22
There won't be a major public outcry because the news center's around who won grammy's, what celebrities are sleeping together, and other non-important b.s.

President Obama said what happened in Egypt is Good, But I hope you American's do not get the wrong image or message from those words, if YOU try that....believe in what I tell you, You will NOT succeed.

edit on 15-2-2011 by Ronin22 because: spelling

edit on 15-2-2011 by Ronin22 because: spelling

By all means, I am not suggesting we do what the people of Egypt did. I know how messy that would be. But, where is the "average Joe" to complain and beg for reconsideration of this proposal? If this passes, at least 2-3 Million people may go without any kind of LIHEAP to stay warm next winter.

I fully understand your concern and frustrations, But I also know as well that majority of the "Average Joe's" & "Jane's" do not worry about things close to them for many reasons, one reason in particular is because the News does not TELL them that they should be concerned about it.

America would rather be more concerned with what celebrity news is "late breaking".

The federal govt. needs to get out of the business of getting involved in business. As long as the govt. is involved the power companies won't budge. Without a federal program, hopefully the power companies will step up to the plate and offer discounted budget programs to the elderly etc. Seek out corporate sponsorships for the aid programs etc blah blah whatever it takes. The tax payers don't need to pay for it. There is Plenty of money in the private realm to help people without needing the govt. tit to rely on. We just need to cut it off first.

My gas bill alone last month was $234 dollars. Paid for out of my pocket in addition to my quarterly R.I.T.A. tax bill of $450.

Originally posted by beezzer
If it were a conservative doing it, it'd be front page news.
But a progressive?

Meh.

Maybe Obama's hoping that hope and change and useless rhetoric will keep them warm.

Oh, to add, since the republicans control the house, it'll be their fault anyway.

24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Beezer beats the drum: "Obama is a communist! Obama is a socialist!" So here Obama cuts aid to the poorest Americans, and instead of actually recognizing this as what he wants, Beezer somehow manages to twist the entire thing into an attack on poor Republicans!

Obama does something that Beezer wants him to do, and it still isnt enough!!

These kind of people just dont understand compromise.

Originally posted by Rockpuck
reply to post by MadDogtheHunter

 

Hmm I paid $189 last month to heat my house and paid over 20k in taxes.. where the effing hell was my government to pay my bill?

Oh.. I have to be poor and unproductive....

Screw government and all of their garbage and wasteful spending. The Federal government should never be paying anyones power/gas bills

Arent Masons supposed to be about community service and the bortherhood of man and all that? Bully for you, eh?

reply to post by Ronin22


I totally agree. "Most" Americans are more concerned that their IPhones have the latest apps, than worrying about paying utility bills or if the old lady down the street is okay or not.

My concern is genuine. I personally haven't used the LIHEAP program since 2006. But my Parents, who are both disabled and "up there" in age, depend on programs like LIHEAP to survive the brutal upstate NY winters. Like many areas, their community has 2 churches and neither step up to help anyone that doesn't attend their church. Its the people that have this similar situation, that are going to be hurt over a cut like Obama has proposed.

Originally posted by aching_knuckles

Originally posted by beezzer
If it were a conservative doing it, it'd be front page news.
But a progressive?

Meh.

Maybe Obama's hoping that hope and change and useless rhetoric will keep them warm.

Oh, to add, since the republicans control the house, it'll be their fault anyway.

24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Beezer beats the drum: "Obama is a communist! Obama is a socialist!" So here Obama cuts aid to the poorest Americans, and instead of actually recognizing this as what he wants, Beezer somehow manages to twist the entire thing into an attack on poor Republicans!

Obama does something that Beezer wants him to do, and it still isnt enough!!

These kind of people just dont understand compromise.

Nice try!

At least I'm consistent!

Where, in my posts have I ever said I want the elderly and the crippled to suffer? He could cut spending on a myriad of government pork, but noooooooooooooooo, he does this to illustrate "how nasty, cutting spending is".

Gimme a break. A blind man could see through this ruse.

Originally posted by MadDogtheHunter
reply to post by Ellen15

 

I agree that DC shouldn't be a crutch for those who need help paying their heating bills. However, most small community churches and organizations won't be able to step up and help everyone. I feel bad for the 79 year old grandmother who lives alone and finds out in December of 2011, that she can't get help from LIHEAP in the following year. I feel bad for the millions of grandmothers who will get that same notice from their county/state LIHEAP program provider. Sure, some will be able to get help from their area church, senior centers or even family. But what about those who won't be that lucky?

now now, there there, stiff upper lip old chap

Republican and conversatives answer for this is - charities, churches and people to provide for the needy not government

If you're worried about dear old granny, send; money, blankets, sweaters, socks, soup etc to the local charity and churches