[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 102 (Thursday, June 19, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5824-S5825]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S5824]]
                IDAHOANS SPEAK OUT ON HIGH ENERGY PRICES

  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, earlier this week, I asked Idahoans to 
share with me how high energy prices are affecting their lives, and 
they responded by the hundreds. The stories, now numbering over 1,000, 
are heartbreaking and touching. To respect their efforts, I am 
submitting every e-mail sent to me through energy_prices@crapo.
senate.gov to the Record. This is not an issue that will be easily 
resolved, but it is one that deserves immediate and serious attention, 
and Idahoans deserve to be heard. Their stories not only detail their 
struggles to meet everyday expenses, but also have suggestions and 
recommendations as to what Congress can do now to tackle this problem 
and find solutions that last beyond today. I ask unanimous consent to 
have printed in the Record today's letters.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

       Let us see if our representatives truly represent us or 
     not. Or are they giving in to the environmental lobbyists? I 
     believe the question of drilling here at home for oil and 
     natural gas should be put on a nationwide ballot and then 
     Congress should push forward with the outcome of that result. 
     Are we really living in a democracy or not? I believe the 
     majority of Americans approve of drilling here for oil and 
     natural gas. If our representatives truly represented us, 
     that would have been happening by now.
     Steven.
                                  ____

       Dear Senator Crapo: The only way to stop the rise in oil 
     prices is to start drilling in our own country. The special 
     interest environmental groups run Congress to the detriment 
     of the American people and the economy.
       We can't drill off the coast of Florida, but the Chinese 
     can; and everybody knows how careful the Chinese are when it 
     comes to the environment. We have huge supplies of natural 
     gas and oil right here in our own country but a few so-called 
     environmental whack jobs are being allowed to destroy our 
     economy and our country.
           Sincerely,
     George.
                                  ____

       I do not have an energy story. I simply want to thank Mr. 
     Crapo and ALL of the folks that help him in the everyday part 
     of the legislature business.
           Sincerely,
     Peggy, Meridian.
                                  ____

       Dear Mr. Crapo, I am a resident of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; 
     taxpayer and voter. Can you please explain to me why the 
     Republican Congress did nothing to confront this issue 4 
     years ago when they controlled all three branches of the 
     government? You knew then that there was an energy crisis and 
     that it would get worse. yet no proactive legislation was 
     passed to confront the issue or to increase production. . . . 
     why?
       Unsigned.
                                  ____

       Hello Senator and thanks for your efforts. You asked that I 
     share my story on how the high gas prices have affected my 
     life. I am sure my story is not nearly as poor as some may 
     be. I am thankful to have a stay-at-home eBay job. However, 
     even I wonder how others do it when once a week I pay $50 
     towards a gas tank full to operate my car and I do not even 
     hardly go anywhere! I used to pay this much all month, now I 
     pay it once a week. My wages are not going up. I have an 
     energy-efficient mini-van.
       It has mostly affected my family, however, because my 5 
     children, 7 years and younger, can no longer feel free to 
     visit their dying grandmother and grandfather, just 3.5 hours 
     away. It used to cost just $20 in gas for a visit there and 
     back, not a big deal. Now it costs $60. Instead of doing this 
     a couple times a month for $30-40, I can now only do it once 
     every 1.5-2 months for $60. Grandma and Grandpa do not come 
     visit us anymore but maybe once every 6 months. They used to 
     come once a month. Our fun outings into the country for 
     enjoyment and to get away from the hectic busy pace of our 
     lives. They simply do not happen anymore. I take the stroller 
     down the bike path. Boring and depressing.
       It is depressing to see such price gouging and why? Is it 
     because of the war? Cannot the government regulate price 
     gougers in such a time of war and economic depression with 
     the housing slump and all? It would be nice to see someone 
     step up to bat. Other families who drive to work every day 
     feel it the most. It makes for all our friends to have sad 
     moods.
       Thanks for your time.
     Marianne.
                                  ____

       My family and I are low middle income and, with the price 
     of fuel/groceries, we have had to choose our fuel to get to 
     work or food. Both my husband and I have been eating less to 
     ensure that our children are well fed, among other cuts in 
     our life. I am extremely worried that if it continues we just 
     won't be able to pay our bills too. We need to be utilizing 
     our own resources within our country! Thanks, Jennifer
       This makes good sense to consider for all our ``Political 
     Leaders'' [to watch this video] . . . let's get something 
     positive going. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPch2k63uj4
     Dan, Post Falls.
                                  ____

       I watched part of a program on PBS where communities are 
     pooling together and buying wind mills to power their towns, 
     and the people in the communities profited from the projects 
     through little or no cost for power. Why can't we get 
     something started like that in Idaho? If for no other reason, 
     it would give the wind a reason to stop blowing.
       We could invest the city/county/tax money in wind farm 
     projects--use money to make and save money for the 
     communities. If we could keep the shyster politicians away 
     from the cash.
       Another energy idea would be to allow the carburetors for 
     automobiles to be revised for better gas mileage. That would 
     be a very simple solution. If an 80,000 pound semi and 
     trailer can get 8 miles per gallon, a car should be able to 
     get at least 100. That would substantially reduce the amount 
     of fuel consumed.
     Kathy, Twin Falls.
                                  ____

       Dear Senator Crapo, I am the Executive Director of the 
     Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership in Idaho Falls 
     which serves 9 eastern Idaho counties. One of our programs is 
     the LIHEAP program which provides one time help with energy 
     bills. The program concluded at the end of March. There is a 
     component of LIHEAP called LIHEAP Crisis that provides 
     limited help outside of the normal Energy Assistance 
     schedule. Since the end of March, we have received requests 
     for help from families we have never seen before. Families 
     must meet the same income criterion that is required for the 
     standard LIHEAP program. What this tells us is that families 
     have been able to make due until now, but because of high 
     fuel costs and higher grocery prices, they are now not able 
     to meet all of their obligations. We are also seeing more 
     requests for food boxes than in previous years.
       I hope this is helpful for you.
     Russ, Idaho Falls.
                                  ____

       I sell heavy equipment and these fuel prices are doing more 
     than pinching family budgets, although they are doing that 
     too. Almost every day I have a contractor tell of a job that 
     got put on hold or cancelled due to the high price of moving 
     dirt. Most of the increase in excavating prices is directly 
     related to diesel. These fuel prices are putting people out 
     of work.
       What can we do to get Congress off their butts and start 
     drilling oil wells and refining it?
       Why are we wasting natural gas making electricity, instead 
     of promoting nuclear and hydro?
       Why are we not pushing diesel? It is cleaner and far more 
     efficient than gasoline.
     Brent, Rigby.
                                  ____

       Mr. Crapo, thanks for your email update on the failure of 
     congress to act concerning higher energy prices. You are all 
     pandering to the environmental wackos. I'm ticked that the 
     Chinese can drill for oil just off our coast lines but we 
     cannot. We need congress to allow oil companies to drill on 
     federal land, especially up in Alaska. We have plenty of our 
     own oil, let's use it and quit depending so much on foreign 
     sources! Yes conservation is good, but we really need 
     increased domestic supply to drive down costs. And we need 
     lower costs NOW before our economy is run into the ground. I 
     can't even afford to fly out of Twin Falls right now because 
     airlines are raising their prices so high, so I have to 
     drive to Boise to catch lower cost flights; I fly a lot 
     for business purposes. But then I have to pay much more in 
     gas to drive from Twin to Boise, so I really do not save 
     all that much . . . but every little bit helps. My vote 
     this Fall, and from here on out will be for whoever will 
     work the hardest on this issue of increasing domestic 
     supply of oil.
     Ron, Kimberly.
                                  ____

       Mr. Crapo, I am responding to your request for some more 
     individual perspective on the brunt of the energy crisis. 
     With the cost of gasoline up 40% it directly impacts my 
     pocketbook, not just in driving costs, but everything that I 
     do. The cost of electricity, the cost of food, shipping, 
     everything has gone up. As a small business owner, and 
     employer here in the state of Idaho, it significantly affects 
     me, and my employees. We need to take every step we can to 
     make our country energy independent, relying on people that 
     hate us, and our way of life, for energy is suicide. If it 
     takes opening up areas for exploration of oil, and natural 
     gas I'm for it! Give oil companies incentives and tax breaks 
     for finding, and refining more product. Stop the stranglehold 
     these out of touch clowns have on our nation! Make us once 
     more the strongest nation in the world! We do not need to be 
     the strongest by subjugating other nations, just by being the 
     only nation that can stand on its own!
       Thank you for your time,
     Daniel, Boise.
                                  ____

       Dear Senator Crapo: You asked how the energy crisis is 
     affecting me personally. My truck is a 1994 Chevy with 140 
     thousand miles on it. I was going to buy a new one to replace 
     it. Since the increase in costs for gas and diesel, I can not 
     afford it now so I will just

[[Page S5825]]

     continue to repair what I have and drive it less. So this 
     discussion affects many businesses in my area.
       (1) I will not be spending money at the dealers to buy it.
       (2) I will not be spending interest at my credit union for 
     the loan.
       (3) I will not be spending money at the insurance company 
     for the added insurance.
       (4) I will not be spending money at the parts houses for 
     improved add-ons to the vehicle (tinted windows, bed liner, 
     etc).
       (5) I am not going to be taking a driving vacation this 
     year, cost too much.
       (6) I do not think I'll be going on an airplane either cost 
     for tickets is increasing.
       (7) I wanted to go over to Europe, Italy this year because 
     I have never been there, but now the cost Euro cost is 1.5 
     times greater so that will not happen.
       Think of the places in the U.S. you have to spend money to 
     get there. Congress does not realize that this is getting 
     worse every day, a recession is already here and if it 
     continues it will be a depression. The oil is not going to go 
     down. The World can only make 85 million barrels per day. The 
     World wants 86.5 million barrels per day. The world is now 
     out bidding the U.S. for oil supplies. The U.S. has to pay 
     the price to by oil for what the world market sets it at. 
     (Econ 101--supply vs. demand). The U.S. makes 5 million 
     barrels per day--the U.S. uses 21 million barrels per day so 
     we need 16 million barrels per day for imports. These are 
     facts FACTS----does congress get these FACTS!!!! We either 
     get more of our own oil or we continue to pay and pay even 
     more. Please tell them over and over again, THIS PROBLEM IS 
     NOT GOING TO GO AWAY IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE! Please tell your 
     democratic friends to do something and not put there head in 
     the sand.
       Thanks for asking.
     John, Boise.
                                  ____

       I am a young mother in Meridian, Idaho. I am one of those 
     few who can honestly say that I LOVE my in-laws. We love to 
     be together as a family. Each year we have a family reunion 
     and do crazy things like make movies, or invent games. These 
     things create memories for generations. This year our family 
     reunion was going to be in late July at the Oregon Coast. 
     Sadly, we recently cancelled our family reunion due to GAS 
     PRICES. It would have cost over $700 per family just to drive 
     to the Oregon Coast. Since our family consists of 5 
     collective young families--it was just too high of an expense 
     for many of us. $700 in gas is just absurd! We are so 
     disappointed! We have been looking forward to this vacation 
     for over a year! There was no way back in August of 2007 that 
     we could have predicted the rise in gas prices. What was 
     feasible then is impossible now. All because of the rise in 
     gas prices. Our family believes in being self sufficient and 
     I believe that America should start being the independent 
     nation we claim to be. Let's use our own oil to create our 
     own gas to put into our own cars so that we can take care of 
     our own families. Thank you for the opportunity to share.
     Cami, Meridian.
                                  ____

       Senator Crapo: Rising energy costs are driving up the costs 
     of virtually everything and rapidly deteriorating the 
     American standard of living. We are having to cut costs 
     wherever possible to compensate because our wages are not 
     going up equally with energy costs. I am so very frustrated 
     with the US Congress. They are inept! They argue instead of 
     taking action. Whenever a good bill comes up they tag it with 
     riders full of wasteful spending. I never thought I'd see a 
     day when the USA was so close to a real depression. Our 
     economy and dollar are heading down the tubes and nothing is 
     done. Of course it is the fault of years of bad government 
     for ruining our economy and it is only going to get worse. I 
     have no faith in the majority of the idiots running this 
     country. It is like no one has any basic common sense or 
     fiscal management skills. It makes me sick!
     Tom.
                                  ____

       Our young married couples are really feeling the pinch of 
     gas costs. Since travel is necessary in southeastern Idaho, 
     we are left with no choice but to pay. We have felt the need 
     to help our married kids pay for gas, which cuts into other 
     budget items, such as food, medicines etc. Our students 
     really feel the pinch since tuition costs have also risen.
       We strongly support lessening our dependence as a nation, 
     by updating refineries, and drilling. Thank you.
     Curtis, Driggs.

                          ____________________