[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 104 (Monday, June 23, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5958-S5960]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                IDAHOANS SPEAK OUT ON HIGH ENERGY PRICES

  Mr. CRAPO. Madam 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, numbering over 1,000, are 
heartbreaking and touching. To respect their efforts, I am submitting 
every e-mail sent to me through [email protected] to the 
Congressional 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 today's letters printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

       Mike, Thanks for the invitation to vent. Well, that is not 
     what you asked, but here goes. I'm one of those poor widows 
     living on Social Security supplemented by a little bit of 
     freelance writing, and energy costs are increasingly adding 
     to sleepless nights as I worry about how to keep going. Do 
     not cue the violins.
       I agree with your points on increasing our energy 
     independence, and believe that we are indeed stewards of the 
     earth who will be held accountable by our Creator for how we 
     manage it. I contend that these two points are not mutually 
     exclusive, and who better than the great people of the United 
     States to figure out how to do it.
       I'm also interested in understanding how futures markets 
     play into the increased cost of gasoline--anything you can 
     tell me about that? Further, how about drastic changes to the 
     red tape required to get nuclear plants up and running?
       One last thing: If you have any influence with Senator John 
     McCain, please use it to encourage him to come up with an 
     aggressive energy policy post haste and present it to the 
     voters. If ever there were a time, this is it, and he needs 
     all the help he can get from those of us who are supporting 
     him out of common-sense duty rather than devotion. Help, 
     help.
       Thanks for your ear and I hope this gets to you and not 
     only your staff.
     Kathy.
                                  ____

       Mike, My family and I are making choices to limit our 
     expenses as is rational, but we have means and discretionary 
     income to juggle. My wife who is a public school 
     administrator tells a different story regarding some of the 
     pupils she sees right now in her summer school programs. They 
     are showing up to school without breakfast, without a lunch, 
     and no money to even buy snacks. Her schools have not offered 
     free and reduced meals for summer school in the past (did not 
     need to), but are trying desperately to do so now. Their 
     parents, many of whom are working lower-paid jobs, are making 
     very hard choices.
       Think of the lowest paid tier of workers in our economy. 
     They may not live in comfortable neighborhoods close to their 
     work. Often they drive cars that are affordable up front, but 
     get deplorable gas mileage thereafter. Forget insurance of 
     any kind. In an economy like ours where housing starts and 
     services are down, many of these fathers are working less 
     hours and driving further away to get them. The choices are 
     becoming untenable.
       I realize that some of the hesitation to address energy in 
     America is part social engineering (which in my opinion is 
     the realm of the passive-aggressive and grossly 
     irresponsible), and part is Washington's age-old reluctance 
     to govern proactively rendering it ineffectual in matters 
     that matter. But, many of your constituents cannot coast 
     through this crisis until it sorts itself out. Worse, the 
     inaction of your colleagues gives

[[Page S5959]]

     us very little hope that our crisis is temporary (if nothing 
     changes, nothing changes).
       A perfect storm is brewing for our economy; government 
     needs to allow the free market and investors opportunities to 
     produce more energy. Aside from ANWR, there are plenty of 
     places in the lower 48 to bring online (as well as refining 
     capacity) to adress this muddle in less than 10 years. Tell 
     your colleagues to lead, follow, or get out of the way!
       In the short-term we are going to see more foreclosures, 
     dependency on state and federal aid, and hospitals like ours 
     will see bad debt and charity care skyrocket. Not a time for 
     inaction. Thanks for your interest in this cause, I hope you 
     are able to rally the millionaire's club to some kind of 
     rational response.
     Rev. Mark, Nampa.
                                  ____

       You and Congress know what needs to be done. Drill now--
     drill HERE! Join China and Cuba off our own shores and become 
     self reliant again. Start drilling in Anwar. Start drilling 
     in Montana. Start using the resources in Colorado in shale. 
     And build more refineries--and you--CONGRESS--loosen the 
     hurdles that make it impossible for anyone drilling and/or 
     building those refineries we need so desperately--loosen the 
     restrictions that hinder providing alternatives (such as 
     nuclear and solar). Stop wasting time telling ``stories''--
     and loosen the restrictions that environmentalists have 
     shackled us with! Do your job.
       Just let us become a self reliant nation again!
     Dave.
                                  ____

       Senator Crapo, This is a Republic! We elected you and you 
     fellow Congress men and women to represent us. So far all my 
     family has seen is a lot of incompetency! No one in Congress 
     has done anything to help the situation. Everyone is geared 
     up to their special interests so that they can get re-elected 
     to another term. You guys need to kick the lobbyist out of 
     the halls of Congress and start representing us. My family 
     cannot take trips to see fellow family members, an event that 
     takes place each year, because we cannot afford the fuel 
     costs. Put yourselves in a private room and figure this thing 
     out without any outside forces influencing you. If you cannot 
     do this, resign, and let us find someone who can. I 
     personally do not care if it is nuclear power or Anwar or 
     raising standards for the auto industry or rationing gas. 
     Protect our environment but try to get us out of this mess 
     and solve this problem. You guys are below President Bush in 
     positive polling.
       Do not you get it???
     Don, Star.
                                  ____

       Dear Sir: My wife and I are retired and had planned to 
     enjoy our retirement years by traveling all over the great 
     state of Idaho and see the attractions we did not have time 
     to see when I was employed. This included taking our boat out 
     on the great lakes and rivers during Idaho's hot summers.
       Now with the combination of high property taxes in Boise, 
     and high fuel prices, we are unable to realize our retirement 
     dreams. The property taxes are going to force us out of our 
     home in which we have lived for 15 years and the high fuel 
     prices will force us to stay at home.
       We can no longer afford to take vacations to Yellowstone 
     and the other National Parks. We cannot visit my two sons 
     located in San Francisco and Texas. We cannot afford to drive 
     our diesel truck so our boat towing days in McCall are over 
     with.
       The do nothing Congress has once again lived up to its name 
     with respect to energy. As you know, the US has huge oil 
     reserves off shore along both coastlines, huge deposits of 
     oil in the the Alaskan arctic, but the useless Congress will 
     not lift a finger to allow for exploration of this oil. This 
     forces us all to be held captive by the Middle East, Mexico, 
     and Venezuela since we are so dependent on their oil. The 
     Democrats in Congress place a higher value on politics and 
     listening to the tree hugger and special interest group 
     minorities than on the wishes of the vast middle class of 
     Americans who want the US to be more self sufficient in oil.
       We have vast coal reserves which cannot be used for the 
     same reasons.
       I am opposed to the use of nuclear power due to the nuclear 
     waste disposal problem and Congress reluctance to open Yucca 
     Flats.
       Please--cannot you do something to allow drilling on our 
     own land to rid us of our dependency on the Middle East?
           Yours truly,
     Ed and Carol, Boise.
                                  ____

       What's the matter with all the Bozos in Washington? As they 
     sit finely with all of their ``not hard-earned'' tax dollars 
     paying them for what? They sure have screwed up America. 
     Special interests, etc . . . We have our own energy sources 
     right here, right now. Let's use it. . . . NOW!!! The polar 
     bear is on the brink of extinction? I do not think so, since 
     their population has increased from 5000 to 35000 worldwide 
     in the last 25 years. Why we let the elite enviromentalists 
     erode our backbone in America is beyond me. Stupid 
     politicians have no idea what it means to live paycheck to 
     paycheck. I have no idea how I can afford furnace oil for 
     next winter. There is no way I can pay these prices for 
     furnace oil, let alone gasoline for the cars. It gets damn 
     cold here in the winter and last winter lasted like 9 
     months. Tell those asses sitting on their asses to get off 
     their asses and open up our country to what we have 
     available right here. . . . Do I sound mad?? No kidding. . 
     . . I am sick of politicians being stupid. Time to stand 
     up and take our country back. Time to weed out the enemy 
     within. Time to do what we should do and be self 
     sufficient as a country.
     Maggie.
                                  ____

       I could not agree with you more that Congress needs to get 
     moving and do something productive about our country's energy 
     plan. Should we increase our own domestic production--
     absolutely. ANWR, offshore drilling etc should be used 
     immediately. Enough of the environmentalists blocking every 
     attempt to increase our own production. Nuclear power is a 
     no-brainer. We have the proven technology to produce clean 
     efficient fuel. Again, enough of the environmentalists trying 
     to block every move to store the nuclear waste. How many 
     100's of millions of dollars have already been spent on Yucca 
     Mountain to use it for the safe storage of nuclear waste--
     let's use it!! Wind and solar are definitely alternatives but 
     being able to produce the quantity of power we need may not 
     be reality. Use them to supplement more reliable sources such 
     as Nuclear.
       In summary it is time we take back our own country and for 
     Congress to do something--leading, not political bickering, 
     would be a refreshing idea.
       Thank you
     Dale, Meridian.
                                  ____

       We do not want nuclear!!
       Idaho is already a dumping ground. Nuclear is dirty, dirty 
     energy!
       Nuclear waste issues must be resolved first.
       Stick to wind, solar, clean and renewable energy.
     Yvette.
                                  ____

       Senator Crapo, Increased domestic oil production or an 
     expanded nuclear energy research are not the best directions 
     for Idaho or the country. If we are talking about the health 
     of our land and people then we should concentrate our 
     research dollars on technical innovation and alternative 
     energies. Just one outcome of technological innovation, the 
     Toyota Prius, has saved more oil in a few years then we would 
     get in over twenty years of drilling in the Arctic National 
     Wildlife Refuge. Idaho has incredible alternative resources 
     available. With thermal waters less than a mile below surface 
     throughout the state, we would be an excellent choice for 
     leading the nation in geothermal energy. We have desert areas 
     of the state where the sun shines almost 365 days a year, and 
     plains areas where we could harvest wind power.
       We do not need lower gas taxes. We need better public 
     transportation. We need leadership that encourages 
     conservation. We need investment in education and research 
     that has the promise of providing a future for our children 
     that is not dependent on nations who do not have our best 
     interests in mind. We have always had independent minds in 
     Idaho. Lets have clean, sustainable energy independence as 
     well.
     Patricia.
                                  ____

       The rate of increase in fossil fuel cost is unprecedented 
     and demonstrates that the current administration and prior 
     congresses have failed the American Citizens and for that 
     matter the world by not properly addressing this issue. The 
     energy crises has been a long time in the making and many 
     good people, much of the scientific community and a rare 
     politician or two (i.e. Al Gore) have been trying to do 
     something.
       I recently bought a home and am watching a minimum of $100/
     week in fuel cost going to the moving. This has been going on 
     for a few months and will do so for a few more. I rarely take 
     trips from my home in the Lenore and Orofino area to Lewiston 
     to shop. It is just too expensive. Plus the cost of 
     everything else is ramping up due to the fuel cost increases. 
     It saddens me that so much profit is being realized by a few. 
     The economic profits are being controlled and directed to 
     those who also control the flow of public resources. This is 
     capitalism at its worst.
       Throughout your career, you have demonstrated an 
     indifference to the problem and have associated yourself with 
     those who mischaracterized environmentalists rather than 
     working with them. Your rating by the League of Conservation 
     Voters is a paltry 13% for this year! Now you want to say you 
     are on the same side. Do you really think we can believe or 
     trust you? The biggest part of conservation is reducing 
     demand--not simply looking to pump up more carbon from 
     fragile environments. I think it would be best if you step 
     aside and allow a new generation of thinkers without your 
     baggage and not linked to pollution-generating industries to 
     take the lead.
       If you truly want to see all America and the world prosper 
     in the future it will take a commitment on your part, to 
     accept a change in the cultures of people, corporations, and 
     government--away from use-up, me only, and profits as the 
     bottom line, to a sustainable economy within the framework of 
     a sustainable healthy environment. This, obviously, does not 
     detract from a major goal of this nation--the pursuit of 
     happiness. Happiness is a personal issue that is influenced 
     by outside factors. Consumerism has made many people believe 
     that more leads to happiness, but the experience of the last 
     half century should speak for itself. Some of the old values 
     such as free time, time with family and friends, having 
     simple hobbies, pursuing knowledge, etc are all examples of 
     low environmental impact ways to be happy.

[[Page S5960]]

       I wish you the best in your retirement and commend you on 
     your career. Encourage your grandchildren to follow a new 
     path.
     Tom.
                                  ____

       As a travel writer and photographer, I am usually on the go 
     much of the time. It used to be nothing to travel a day or 
     two by car to go do a story somewhere for one of the many 
     magazines I write for. But now, due to the high cost of 
     gasoline, I've got to really look at the distances I have to 
     travel because of the high cost of gasoline. There are story 
     opportunities I have to turn down not because of the distance 
     itself, but because of the cost of gasoline to cover that 
     distance.
       I am retired, so it is not about making a lot of money. If 
     my travel costs are less than what I'll be paid for the 
     articles and photography, I'll usually go do the story. It 
     has been like I'm always on vacation. But now, the travel 
     costs are becoming so expensive it's becoming harder every 
     day to except assignments that require extensive driving to 
     destinations to do the articles. My happy style of travel and 
     retirement are coming to a fast close because of gas prices.
       My dream when I retired in 1998 was to see as much of the 
     United States as possible and be on the road exploring the 
     unique places I never got around to while I was working. I 
     thought I might even do a book like John Steinbeck did, 
     ``Travels With Charlie'', and illustrate it with my 
     photography from around the United States. Well, that is down 
     the tubes as well.
       Whenever I leave the house to go somewhere, I have to make 
     sure that I get three or four things done on the trip so as 
     not to waste gas. It has become a real struggle. I feel sorry 
     for the people that have to drive far every day to go to 
     work, it has got to be knocking them for a loop with the 
     price of gas what it is.
     Jerry.
                                  ____

       I think we desperately need an energy policy that will 
     utilize our own proven oil and gas reserves. I blame congress 
     in part for the current high energy prices due their 
     continually politicizing the adoption of a workable national 
     energy policy.
     Mel, Boise.
                                  ____

       I live in Ashton, Idaho, and drive to Idaho Falls to teach 
     at Idaho State University, so the cost of gas matters. Yet, I 
     also welcome the high costs of gasoline if it forces us to an 
     awareness of how destructive burning fossil fuels is and 
     forces us to change. I absolutely oppose more production of 
     fossil fuels, and urge you to take alternative energy sources 
     seriously: wind, solar, and support these with the kind of 
     subsidies you so easily give to agriculture. Above all, it is 
     time to do something about public transportation, especially 
     the restoration of rail services to rural areas, or support 
     for connecting Idaho to Portland/Denver. Give Idaho 
     transportation alternatives, rather than working within the 
     same addiction to automobiles and fossil fuels. My ``story'' 
     is outrage that government has given so little thought to 
     alternatives.
     Darrell.
                                  ____

       Dear Senator Crapo, I strongly believe our efforts to 
     address these energy costs should be concentrated on getting 
     more use out of clean, renewable energy that is already 
     available. Most of us could go a great deal further in our 
     energy conservation efforts; incentives might help. There is 
     already a great deal available in wind and solar energy, I 
     think that with incentives to utilize them and research money 
     directed at improving them we can start to establish a 
     sustainable energy usage for the long term.
       Increasing drilling in the United States will at most give 
     us a few years of additional oil, if that, at the cost of 
     possibly despoiling a beautiful natural zone and damaging 
     critical bird nesting habitat.
       Increasing our use of nuclear power when we still have not 
     figured out a safe means of dealing with the waste is 
     similarly irresponsible over the long term.
       I too have felt the high energy prices, but I do not think 
     they should be used as an excuse to increase our efforts in a 
     failed direction that is causing severe damage to the global 
     environment. It is time that we stop and consider how we can 
     move our energy policy in a different direction for our long-
     term health.
     Aria, Moscow.
                                  ____

       I am a substitute teacher for School District #331 in 
     Minidoka County. I have been subbing for 13 years and, until 
     this last year, I worked mostly full days but the occasional 
     half day for teachers who, for various reasons, didn't need 
     to be gone all day. I will no longer go in for half days 
     because it is not economically feasible. We, as subs, are not 
     paid well anyway, and to only get half pay, with gas prices 
     like they are, is not possible anymore. I substitute at the 
     secondary level and there are two schools in Rupert that I 
     work at regularly, Minico High School is about ten minutes 
     away and West Minico Middle School is 20 minutes away. I do 
     not go to Minico or West much any more because of high gas 
     prices. I think we really need to ``drill here, drill now'' 
     because something has got to give. Our wages are not going 
     up! Thank you for caring. . . .
     Patty, Rupert.
                                  ____

       We continue to build our economy on oil yet we can not 
     produce enough oil in this country for energy independence. 
     It wouldn't matter if we could, because we are capitalist. We 
     would just sell the oil on the global market.
       We need to look at our current natural resource and use 
     them to our advantage. Brazil switched to sugarcane ethanol, 
     but corn is not the answer to the United States. Our natural 
     resource is coal and natural gas. We should concentrate on 
     making coal cleaner and switch our economy to electricity 
     powered by coal, hydro, nuclear, and wind (most likely in 
     that order). That is energy independence. Quit fighting for 
     something that doesn't exist.
     Brent, Boise.

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