OVER THE PAST year, 1.3 million more Americans fell below the poverty line, brining the total number of Americans living in poverty to 36 million. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is reporting that heating costs will increase by 24% from this time last year (the Energy Information Administration estimates the increase at 28%).
Yet according to the Center for American Progress, both Congress and the President have underfunded the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. HEAP, helps the 30 million households that “spend three times as much of their income on energy costs as middle-income families,” pay their heating bills during the coldest months of the year.A survey conducted by the National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association found that 1/4 of those served by the program were forced to skip medical, rent, or mortgage payments to pay their energy bills. One out of every five respondents skipped meals because they were forced to pay utility bills.
In spite of this, Congress increased HEAP funding by just $164 million, less than what is needed to cover the expected 24 % (or 28%) increase in home heating costs. “Adjusting for the price of fuel, the 2005 level of HEAP funding is lower than in any of the previous five years– 23 percent lower than the funding level for 2001.”
In his budget for the 2002 fiscal year, Bush tried to cut HEAP funding by $300 million, despite higher unemployment rates and a colder winter. “While energy costs have soared, ‘funding for HEAP and other energy assistance programs grew only 7% under the Bush administration, barely matching inflation.’ When HEAP started 22 years ago, the program helped about 7 million families. Today, it only helps about 5 million.”
Compassionate conservatism at its finest!