[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 159 (Wednesday, October 1, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10305-S10307]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IDAHOANS SPEAK OUT ON HIGH ENERGY PRICES

  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, in mid-June, I asked Idahoans to share with 
me how high energy prices are affecting their lives, and they responded 
by the hundreds. The stories, numbering well over 1,200, are 
heartbreaking and touching. To respect their efforts, I am submitting 
every e-mail sent to me through an address set up specifically for this 
purpose 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:

       The company I work for has just closed the doors to the 
     center I have worked in for eight years and offered us jobs 
     in a center over 50 miles away. Because I am three miles 
     short of qualifying for a moving package, I (and 64 of my co-
     workers) will be forced to commute over 50 miles each way 
     every day. We live in a rural area so public transportation 
     is not an option. To get a new job would cut my wages more 
     than half, so I must follow my job. I have three small 
     children (ages 2, 4 and 6), so I cannot stay away during the 
     week and go home only on weekends.
       I do not know what I will do if the cost of gas continues 
     to rise. I, along with others that I know, could actually 
     lose everything we have worked so hard to achieve. For the 
     first time, I am really afraid of what is happening to my 
     country.
       Please do something now.
       The rising price of gasoline is hurting nearly every family 
     in America. We are tired of Congress doing nothing but bowing 
     down to the environmentalists.
       It is time for Congress to develop a program which allows 
     the exploration of America's energy sources without 
     materially affecting our environment. Congress should put our 
     families first, ahead of the environmentalists!
     Yalon, Pocatello.
                                  ____

       In response to your request on the impact of high gas 
     prices, here is my story:
       To help reduce the impact of higher fuel prices, I am 
     taking personal responsibility of my own actions. It is 
     actually really easy. I have made a habit of driving much 
     less by riding a bike, walking, combining trips and cutting 
     out unnecessary trips. The net impact has been less money 
     spent at the pump (conservation) and I am in better health 
     because of it.
       As I ride around town, not a day goes by that I come across 
     people letting their vehicle run idle in a parking lot while 
     they do their errands. This includes sheriff's vehicles that 
     idle outside the nearby office. This lack of overall 
     awareness regarding high oil prices tells me we are not even 
     close to changing the wasteful consumption habits Americans 
     have adopted over many years. In the meantime, we learned 
     nothing from the 70s. Since then, our politicians have failed 
     to adopt a viable, self reliant energy policy. Instead, we 
     drive bigger vehicles and have become even more reliant on 
     mid-east oil. The money that is being sent overseas is 
     what allows the bad guys to fund the terrorist efforts. 
     One in which we are fighting at the cost of over 4,000 
     deaths, many more permanent injuries and billions of 
     borrowed taxpayer dollars. At this point, there is 
     absolutely no end in sight for the war that most 
     politicians will still not admit is all about the oil. 
     After five years of false promises, we now have record oil 
     prices and, what I believe is, over an eight trillion 
     dollar deficit.
       What this all has meant for me is, I woke up. I now realize 
     how terribly screwed up things are in Washington. We are 
     running out of oil! And the rest of the world wants the same 
     standard of living we have! And the lack of resources and the 
     environment cannot allow things to stay the same way, period!
       In summary, your e-mail tells me you are not looking at the 
     big picture. We cannot drill our way out of this. At best, it 
     would only be a band-aid. I fear too many people still 
     believe the same career politicians that are to blame for 
     getting us into the mess we are in. They will say whatever it 
     takes to fool voters that they have the right answers, even 
     though history proves otherwise. What a shame.
       Although I know I am fooling myself to think otherwise, I 
     hope you have the guts to include this during your 
     presentation to the Senate. Thanks for your time.
     Steve.
                                  ____

       The one theme missing from so much of the concern over the 
     rising price of energy in our country is searching/
     researching for alternatives! To continue to open up every 
     potential oil source in our own country is so short-sighted 
     since petroleum is a finite resource and does not solve the 
     real problem.

[[Page S10306]]

     Our leaders like you need to provide leadership to help our 
     nation find through research and development alternative 
     energy resources and stop this nonsense of giving the oil 
     companies access to every square inch of natural landscape to 
     extract oil. If our nation had had the guts to deal with the 
     need to diversify our nation's appetite for petroleum energy 
     back in the 1970s instead of letting the oil and auto lobbies 
     keep us dependent on their services, we would not be in 
     today's mess.
       What concerns me is I hear you falling in step with the 
     international oil corporations [and other groups] that feel 
     threatened by the US being weaned off of oil products. 
     [Dynamic leadership that leads us to alternative energy 
     sources is most important.]
     Catherine, Pocatello.
                                  ____

       Per your request, I am sending information concerning my 
     concerns about the high fuel prices.
       The population [of my town] is less than 1,000 in town with 
     less than 2,500 total in the entire county. The closest large 
     city is Blackfoot with Idaho Falls being the next closest. 
     Idaho Falls is larger, and it contains most of the trade 
     support that we need. For example, pet supplies and food for 
     us. It now means, thanks to the higher fuel prices, we can 
     only travel to Idaho Falls once a month. It takes over $120 
     to fuel my truck with diesel. With a round trip mileage of 
     close to 150 miles and making only 16 miles-per-gallon, I am 
     using close to \1/2\ a tank of fuel. I am retired and with 
     fixed income. This affects me in a big way. My wife and I 
     have a small vehicle for when driving is necessary within the 
     local area. Still with both vehicles, we are spending close 
     to $200 to $250 during a good month. These higher prices, in 
     our area, means we must cut on other items, such as dinner 
     out.
       Arco currently is paying $4.19.9 for the lowest grade of 
     gasoline and $4.89.9 for diesel. The prices north of Mackay 
     are even higher; however, in Idaho Falls, unleaded regular is 
     still under $4 per gallon with diesel just under $4.30. We in 
     Arco cannot afford to travel to Idaho Falls or even Blackfoot 
     for the lower prices due to the mileage roundtrip.
       In my opinion, this economy is very deep in recession and 
     very soon will be deep in a depression. The higher costs of 
     energy, food and other necessities are definitely making it 
     very difficult for us on fixed incomes to survive well. I can 
     remember a portion of the depression, and if another occurs, 
     the last one will be a ``cake walk''.
     Guy, Arco.
                                  ____

       Happy to see that you are starting to see the reality of 
     the things that I have been sending e-mails about over the 
     past year! I am glad that you are soliciting opinions from 
     your constituents. Here are my thoughts (again):
       1. It is the housing bubble bursting that has precipitated 
     the collapse of the dollar. If you look at something stable 
     like gold or silver, you will see that it takes the same 
     amount of gold to buy a gallon of oil now as it has 
     throughout recent years. The dollar has lost tremendous value 
     due primarily from the Fed lowering interest rates and adding 
     liquidity to save (bail-out) banks and Wall Street.
       2. There is no truth in bank balance sheets. They cook the 
     numbers constantly and no one seems to care that they 
     misrepresent earnings in order to sustain stock price and the 
     Dow. This in tern gets dumped onto ``we the people'' since it 
     creates a false sense of stability. Although this also is not 
     sustainable, it does provide these large institutions time to 
     try to manipulate the markets and make (steal) money from 
     unsuspecting investors. This has got to stop immediately. 
     Loosing 401K value by purchasing stock that is going to get 
     pounded when the truth of the sub-prime exposure eventually 
     gets reckoned. Let us stop this now. Let the banks take their 
     lumps and let the people have a chance to invest in properly 
     valued institutions.
       3. Recent discovery of programs like ``Friends of Mozillo'' 
     where housing committee leaders get preferred rates from 
     banks.
       4. Environmental lobbies insisting that we do not go after 
     much needed oil. So, if the oil companies were to fund a few 
     lobbyists, could they really get their way and prevent us 
     from drilling? Should we allow this to continue? Should we 
     insist that it is essential to save our country and just get 
     the oil? I am told that the reserves in Alaska and Florida 
     alone hold enough oil that we would never need another drop 
     of Saudi oil? What are we waiting for?
       5. Looking at the farming incentives for growing corn to 
     make ethanol is not financially sound. Spending more to farm 
     and wasting oil in the process makes no sense. Stop the 
     subsidies to farming corn. It really will not help and will 
     effect (negatively) the inflation we are already 
     experiencing. You say alternate energy. Let us get some tax 
     incentives for R and D here in Idaho. Attract business and 
     grow our economy by encouraging these types of businesses.
       6. Initiatives to help grow American manufacturing. Giving 
     away all of our manufacturing jobs due to our short sighted 
     attitudes by American companies succeed will only lead to 
     higher unemployment, lower wages and declining property 
     values. Idaho for one should be doing everything they can to 
     encourage growth. Reducing tax obligations for corporations 
     and providing cash incentives for companies wanting to move 
     here would certainly help. If wages were substantially higher 
     then we could better afford the increases at the pump and 
     elsewhere.
       7. Someone ask some tough questions of the Fed and its 
     polices. I mean reducing interest rates has only increased 
     the problem. Actually fixed 30-year rates have increased due 
     to lack of confidence. Restore confidence, get the rates of 
     short term debt back to sure up the dollar. It is sad that 
     the Fed is owned by the banks, allowing them to continue 
     unchallenged by Congress is ridiculous.
     R.
                                  ____

       I am a sole provider of a family of four. I have been 
     struggling to pay mortgage, insurance, food, electricity, and 
     clothing bills as well as paying the high cost of gasoline 
     for my vehicle to get to work. I feel as though I will need 
     to get an additional job to cover the expenses. I was 
     thinking about getting a loan to help with consolidating some 
     bills; however, that is only a bandage to my problem. The 
     problem is, that this year my employer only granted cost of 
     living increases at a 1.5%. That does not even help since the 
     true cost of living is far greater. I was grateful for the 
     increase; however, it does not help feed my family. I now 
     have to pay more than extra at the pump and now my vehicle 
     needs an oil change and that is more costs added on to my 
     transportation. I need the car for work in order to have 
     money to take care of my family. There has to be a better 
     solution to this problem.
     Jan.
                                  ____

       The point that must be stressed is that the economy of this 
     nation and, particularly in the West and more particularly in 
     wide open states like Idaho, is based on inexpensive personal 
     modes of transportation. We have no other options to get from 
     one place to another. (Neither horse and buggy nor any form 
     of mass transportation is available.) In my particular 
     situation, my wife and I are both retired and attempting to 
     live on a fixed retirement income. We both have health 
     conditions which require substantial travel to specialists 
     ranging from Idaho Falls on the north to Salt Lake City on 
     the south. (You must realize that Malad's medical facilities, 
     while greatly appreciated, are, relatively speaking. very 
     limited. We have only two general practitioners and for more 
     serious conditions are routinely referred to specialists in 
     the larger populated areas, again, typically ranging anywhere 
     from Idaho Falls to Salt Lake City.)
       We have church commitments, requiring regular trips to Salt 
     Lake. Also, we have seven families scattered around southern 
     Idaho and northern Utah. We have had long continued 
     intercommunicative relationships with these families. Now, 
     with gas refills requiring anywhere from $50 to $100 and a 
     still limited budget, obviously, something has to give. 
     Windmills, solar panels and changing light bulbs will not cut 
     it. Quality of life has to fall, and, in the case of required 
     medical attention, can have serious consequences.
       Additionally, we have two divorced daughters who have legal 
     requirements for child custody visits. In one case, the 
     intervening distance is over 300 miles; in the other case, 
     over 100. Transporting children over these distances 
     regularly and frequently, obviously, becomes extremely 
     onerous!
       Also. I have a son, living in Pocatello, who has numerous 
     clients, and makes a substantial portion of his income, in 
     and around the Salt Lake-Provo area. Needless to say, with 
     $100 gas tanks, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep 
     these contacts economically viable, and has a serious impact 
     on his ability to earn an income.
       And, of course, this does not even take into account 
     strictly pleasure trips to the mountains or to a lake for 
     relaxation. Or to one of the nearby cities for entertainment 
     opportunities not available in Malad. We basically become 
     prisoners in our own home! Again, our economy, our way of 
     life, is predicated on the ability to take advantage of 
     assets, attractions and opportunities not available in our 
     immediate locale, but readily available in the surrounding 
     areas. Our ability to make a living and contribute to the 
     economy, as well as enjoy what the economy has to offer us, 
     in economic, social, charitable and pleasure situations, 
     requires affordable transportation. We do not have that 
     ability now and that is solely the result of 
     shortsighted, faulty energy policy.
       Finally, I truly resent the suggestion that this nation is 
     too rich and must be brought down to size. Choking off energy 
     will certainly bring us down, but unfortunately, not only 
     will it result in economically disastrous conditions here in 
     this country, but in the entire world also. I am still 
     looking for some responsible leadership out of Washington to 
     rectify this insane energy policy. I certainly hope you can 
     provide it.
     J. Wesley.
                                  ____

       This is a great idea! Thanks for the opportunity to share 
     my thoughts on energy with you.
       I made some changes in my life three years ago that have 
     allowed me to reduce my gasoline costs substantially. I 
     started my own business and I now work from home thanks to 
     the wonder of the internet. I have been able to maintain my 
     (still somewhat minimal) salary but have eliminated an 80-
     mile round-trip commute saving me hundreds of dollars a year 
     in fuel costs.
       We are also planning on augmenting our propane heating 
     system with solar collectors. This will have a high upfront 
     cost, but we are doing it to reduce our carbon emissions.

[[Page S10307]]

       Here is my energy wish list for Congress:
       Give larger and more consistent economic incentives for 
     private and commercial solar and wind installation. Germany 
     did this with solar and it is a run-away success.
       Please support solar thermal for commercial electric 
     production!! Idaho would be a great spot for solar thermal 
     farms. We could be a leader!
       Improve the nation's high tension power grid so power can 
     be better distributed from new sources like solar thermal 
     farms.
       Give incentives to car-makers to bring the price down on 
     electric plug-in cars. (See solar farms above for the power 
     source.)
       Stop the coal-bed methane production in Wyoming and 
     Colorado. It is ruining the environment and endangering the 
     pronghorn, sage grouse, air quality and water supplies. It is 
     sad to watch this happening.
       Please do not support nuclear energy. I lived through 
     Chernobyl in Europe in 1986. It was not fun. No one has 
     solved the nuclear waste problem and no one really wants the 
     stuff stored for centuries in their backyard.
       More light rail systems in Idaho. I would use it if it was 
     available.
       Thanks for listening--and for all your hard work in 
     Congress!
     Linda, Driggs.
                                  ____

       My daughter drives from Caldwell every day to her job as a 
     paralegal in Boise. She is divorced, and her husband pays 
     $100 per month child support. She has one minor child at home 
     and one child is 18 years old. The 18-year-old drives to 
     Boise to clean houses despite a continuing terrible case of 
     eczema. She married a young Marine in May. He is stationed in 
     Okinawa as a Private First Class. My daughter is on a very 
     limited budget and is having great difficulty continuing to 
     buy food for her children and pay for her gasoline to 
     continue working. I am trying to help, but am widowed and on 
     a limited income. My husband was a World War II hero, whose 
     honors included, among over 50 medals, two Purple Hearts and 
     the Legion of Merit. We are trying to do our best to hang on 
     but it gets harder every day. I paid $50 to fill my gas tank 
     yesterday at a discount station. If the situation continues 
     to decline, I do not know how we will continue to be able to 
     drive to work or the grocery store. As of now, I am only 
     driving when necessary, and am limiting my spending in every 
     way. Thank you for your concern.
     Sharon.

                          ____________________