[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 160 (Thursday, October 2, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10470-S10471]
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:

       We have tried to have a fair amount of expendable income 
     for emergencies and unexpected expenses, but with the rising 
     gas prices we have seen this ``buffer'' disappear. We are 
     both employed outside the home and must drive a fair distance 
     to get to work. We have owned the same vehicles for over four 
     years. We do not have a lot of options to lower our fuel 
     costs. We cannot sell our home and move closer to our jobs. 
     We cannot sell our vehicles and buy more fuel efficient 
     vehicles so we are kind of stuck. For the first time in our 
     lives, we have had to resort to putting gasoline on credit 
     cards to get from paycheck to paycheck. It is not just the 
     gas prices, but I have seen a 400% increase in my power bill 
     that I have no explanation for. Nothing has changed in my 
     usage and, in fact, I switched to a gas dryer to try to 
     decrease consumption. But, last year my average power bill 
     was $30 a month. This year it is $120 a month. Also, I have 
     found that the $100 per week I spend on groceries only buys 
     half of what it used to. The rising gas prices have affected 
     many areas of my life and my budget. In fact, my husband was 
     asked to take a 10% cut in pay about two months ago because 
     the construction company he works for was having a difficult 
     time keeping up with rising costs in construction. It seems 
     like every aspect of our lives is being affected by the 
     rising gas prices, and we are powerless to do anything about 
     it. What is even more frustrating is knowing that the problem 
     could be remedied by the federal government if they would be 
     willing to take action. There are options available to use 
     our own resources and refuse to have an entire nation held 
     prisoner by foreign oil. I am aware of the concerns by 
     environmentalists, but I believe we have the technology to 
     remove these resources with minimal effect on the 
     environment. It is wrong to allow one group of individuals to 
     have the power to adversely affect an entire nation just 
     because they have the time and resources to scream in the 
     government's ear while the rest of America is too busy just 
     fighting to survive.
       We are lucky because we have good-paying jobs and are able, 
     so far, to absorb the cost. But I worry about my children who 
     are struggling to make ends meet and raising their children 
     and are being forced sometimes to choose between buying food 
     or paying their utilities and putting gas in their car to get 
     to work. We all need help--now.
     Jane, Iona.
                                  ____

       Thank you for the opportunity to respond on the rising cost 
     of gasoline, food, energy, etc. I am amazed at how much 
     everything has risen in the past six months. My electricity 
     bill is on level pay (I do not like surprises so I opt to 
     have a set amount each month). This past month my level pay 
     went up $24 a month! I am already paying $95 a month for 
     natural gas to heat my home and water. Our city has just 
     raised the cost of water, garbage and sewer by $12 a month; 
     at least that is how much my bill went up.
       Gasoline--boy, where do I start! When it started going up 
     three years ago, I started cutting back then; now there 
     really is not a lot that I can do. I plan my day around where 
     I need to go. I try to do everything in one day so that I am 
     not running into town for one item. We are walking or riding 
     our bikes to places that do not require us to carry a lot. If 
     I have a doctor's appointment, I try to make other 
     appointments the same day and spend the day going from one to 
     the other--doing shopping, errands, etc. all in that day. It 
     makes for a very long day, but then I do not drive anywhere 
     for two or three days. I think it saves me in the long run. I 
     do belong to a fitness club and try to carpool with my cousin 
     to that. We take turns driving and if we have errands to do, 
     we do them together if it is in the same area--saves us both 
     on gas.
       I have a small business where I have to travel to people's 
     homes. I have had to charge a service call of $25 if it is 
     out of Pocatello. I used to give free estimates all around 
     the area, but I cannot afford it any more. If the clients 
     purchase from me, then I will apply the $25 to their order. 
     It is the only way I can afford to run my business. What else 
     can I do?
       My two adult sons purchased scooters three years ago and 
     some of their friends at ISU laughed at them--now my sons are 
     the ones that are laughing as their friends tell them how 
     smart they were to get those scooters when they did, because 
     the price of them have doubled! My husband rides his 
     motorcycle to work (a 22-mile round trip) every day when the 
     weather is good. It saves us about $100 a month because we 
     are not filling his truck up weekly.
       I wish that the government would listen to the people, not 
     those environmentalist wackos who are tree huggers. I want 
     more refineries in our country. I want more drilling in our 
     country. I do not like the fact that our money goes to those 
     foreign countries who hate America! Why are we supporting 
     them? They take our money, control the oil prices and are out 
     to get us one way or another! We need to become independent 
     of them--we do not need them--let's use the resources that 
     are in our own country! Let us make America great and the 
     super power we once was.
       I wonder why the car manufacturers do not design a car that 
     gets better gas mileage! I know that the technology is there. 
     I heard about 25 years ago that a gentleman had developed a 
     car that got better gas mileage and the car manufacturers and 
     gas companies paid him millions for his plans and the rights 
     to them and he sold them to them. So I think that car 
     manufacturers are in cahoots with the gas companies too!
       Another thing--we do not need to help those countries that 
     hate us. Stop sending aid to countries that want us dead! Let 
     them help themselves--we have our own problems here that we 
     really need to take care of--do not worry about these other 
     countries--take care of us!!
     Debbie.
                                  ____

       Thank you for your concerns. It is appreciated. High fuel 
     prices have affected every single item we purchase and 
     everyday living. We spend roughly around $500 per month just 
     traveling to work and back home. We only travel when it is 
     absolutely necessary. We had planned a family reunion in 
     Washington State this summer, but have cancelled due to the 
     higher and ever increasing cost of fuel. We turn off our oil 
     furnace unless it is too cold that we cannot get by with 
     extra blankets. Our heating fuel cost for 1\1/2\ month is up 
     to $668. Food and necessities are up 20% from four months 
     ago, on most items. Clothing prices are up as much as 40% on 
     some items. Everything is costing more.
       I am employed with a state entity. I received a 4% 
     increase, which I am grateful for, just enough of an increase 
     to cover the increase in cost of our health insurance. As you 
     can see, it does not cover the cost of inflation. My husband 
     and I now worry if we are going to have to save less for our 
     retirement in order to just live!
       Our children have families of their own. It is even harder 
     for them. Even though Idaho has increased the wages, it still 
     does not seem to be in line with the continuing increases in 
     the cost of living. I do not see things getting any better in 
     the near future. In fact, I feel they will just get worse.
     Anna.
                                  ____

       This e-mail is in response to your recent e-newsletter on 
     energy prices.
       Stories: Our church is investing in modern, high-efficiency 
     heating and improved insulation including blinds over windows 
     that we believe will reduce energy use and cost. The downside 
     is that the money for these improvements and high energy 
     costs will not be spent on community mission work in 
     Pocatello and beyond.
       Individual persons and families we know are changing 
     habits. We held a group discussion at worship to invite ideas 
     and solutions. Examples are: more use of bikes with emphasis 
     on Pocatello Free Bikes (rebuilt by teenagers) for people 
     with less money for new bikes; more thoughtful planning of 
     shopping trips such as combining stops rather than multiple 
     home-store trips; use of mass transit and calls for more 
     organized carpooling in Pocatello; calls for coordination 
     between bus fleet operators (Pocatello, School District 25, 
     ISU, etc.) to increase flexibility and service. We all lose 
     some choices in how we use our time.
       Some commuters (Pocatello to Blackfoot or Idaho Falls) are 
     looking for work closer to home. Pocatello is a poor city 
     with average per capita income only about \2/3\ the national 
     average. Workers who accept lower pay in Pocatello to 
     compensate for high motor fuel costs simply reduce the 
     disposable income in town. The long-term effect will be local 
     businesses further in decline (or not growing and expanding) 
     and a shift of economy to grey-market (you help me fix my 
     car; I'll help fix your deck) that is outside normal commerce 
     and taxation. So this impact will begin to reduce government 
     income.
       There is more discussion among thoughtful people about 
     sustainability than I have heard in years. People are asking 
     questions about an energy-intensive economy that will

[[Page S10471]]

     reveal massive cheap energy misuse and waste in the 
     agriculture system; considering community design around live-
     work-play areas as opposed to commuting; and raising concerns 
     that short-term greed in the energy economic system will lead 
     to further economic class division and injustices. Congress 
     cannot allow our economy to decline to a survival of the 
     richest over the general public without inciting class 
     warfare. We are seeing the beginnings of mass protest 
     worldwide--trucker strikes, etc.
                                  ____

       Thoughts on Congressional priorities.
       Short-term: Get the Department of Energy to be pro-active. 
     US-DOE has lots of information on their web site but little 
     seems to be circulating in terms of press releases, 
     supplements to K-12 or university education, advice to 
     businesses about how to conserve and make better energy 
     investments leading to sustainability.
       Do not give blanket permission to energy companies to use 
     non-renewable resources (e.g. drilling on land, off-shore, 
     sensitive areas, dirty coal, etc.) until a parallel energy 
     use reduction for sustainability system is working. Using our 
     children's and grandchildren's resources to feed the pig of 
     US energy consumption levels and obscene energy company 
     profits now would be immoral.
       Do more to expand public education around energy and 
     resource conservation for a sustainable US energy future. 
     This should be a crash project. I wrote to you, Sen. Craig 
     and Rep. Simpson recommending that the 2005 Federal Energy 
     Bill include funding for education. There is not a penny. So 
     market forces (AKA Greed) are driving the energy train now. 
     Coordinate all the players in the energy mess: governments 
     (federal, state, and local); corporations and other 
     businesses; non-government/non-profit organizations 
     (information and advocacy, compassionate action for impacted 
     people); and, organized crime (like Enron-thinking companies 
     who are taking windfall profits). Use principles of social 
     marketing that uses commercial advertising/marketing tools to 
     sell products but for common good purposes (anti-smoking, 
     AIDS prevention, etc.)
       Longer/long-term: Get the Department of Energy to be pro-
     active in developing policy and programs. These folks have 
     not developed viable federal energy policy or jaw-boned to 
     reduce corporate greed for decades. For example, technology 
     and policy for nuclear power developed into the 70s simply 
     died in favor of status-quo non-renewable resource use and 
     shift of food production (corn) to energy. If the nation 
     could build nuclear bombs and nuclear submarines in crash 
     projects in the past, the nation can do it again!
       Support the next President of the United States in 
     collaborating with other nations about energy sustainability 
     worldwide through the United Nations. Revitalize and support 
     treaties and alliances among groups willing to sacrifice and 
     change to achieve sustainability on the planet. Without this 
     effort there will be conflict and violence over competition 
     for dwindling non-renewable resources. Competition for Iraq 
     oil is the tip of the iceberg here.
       Actively promote public education, research and development 
     for the two major non-polluting energy sources: nuclear power 
     and solar power. Support renewable energy research into 
     smaller make-a-difference energy contributions such as wind, 
     tidal, geothermal, etc. Support research in related 
     technology such as: high-MPG vehicles, innovative mass 
     transit, and improved batteries to store solar/wind energy, 
     easy-to-use sensors for home and business energy audit 
     (thermal/electrical waste). Pay for energy research by 
     cutting back on spending for fear reduction by violence--
     reduce military missions in Iraq and Afghanistan and shift to 
     political, diplomatic, economic efforts with other nations 
     involved.
       Use the national energy crisis as a lever to re-think the 
     role of corporations. Once corporations were set up to help 
     remove liability from individuals so they would take risk, 
     invest, and build enterprise for America and Americans. Over 
     the past few decades, corporations have lost their social 
     responsibility and think of top management and shareholders 
     as the only stakeholders worthy of decisions. But 
     corporations are the nation's best hope for good jobs and 
     `doing well by doing good.' If you folk cannot help get 
     corporations back into part of the American dream for all 
     Americans then the masses will push for government shift 
     toward socialism. I lived and worked in the UK for many years 
     and know the stifling effect of an entitlement mentality.
                                                         Laurence.
       I am a Federal Police Officer, and I work at the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs hospital in Boise. I live 50 miles from 
     the VA, so I have a daily commute of 100 miles. My wife and I 
     would consider moving closer to Boise; however, she is a 
     federal employee at the Mountain Home Air Force Base. She has 
     a 20-mile daily commute (roundtrip). I prefer for her to have 
     a shorter commute than me.
       We do see the effects of the higher gas prices. I drive a 
     2002 Ford Ranger 4X4. I never wanted to own a full-size 
     truck, and I am glad I bought the Ranger. However, the best 
     mileage I can get is about 21 mpg. I would hate to sell my 
     truck, because we need it for working on our land. Besides 
     that, it is tough to get a load of lumber at the Home Depot 
     in a little economy car. So, I eat the gas prices and 
     continue to work at my good federal job. We are cutting back 
     on some of the things we like to do, such as go out to 
     dinner, golf, and travel. These are all things that help the 
     economy, and we enjoy doing them. But something has to be 
     done, hence the cutbacks. I am also spending the night in 
     Boise at least one night a week so I can avoid the commute, 
     and the gas station. I do not like being away from my family, 
     but it is another sacrifice I have to make to save at the 
     pump.
       I hate to think about the future, as the price of gas will 
     be passed down to food, clothing, and other essential 
     elements of life. I pray that the government will open up 
     drilling, build more refineries, and start building more 
     nuclear plants. We need to cut our ties with OPEC and other 
     corrupt oil-producing countries.
       Congress, please help us!
     Greg, Mountain Home.
                                  ____

       I am happy to see you working on the renewable energy 
     efficiency caucus. For 28 years before recent retirement, I 
     founded and owned the first solar electricity equipment 
     business in Idaho, providing electric systems for homes 
     located beyond the reach of power lines, of which there are 
     many in our state. My own home has been primarily powered by 
     solar and wind since 1978.
       I would like to point out that Idaho drivers actually do 
     have some important choices available which you did not 
     mention at the start of your newsletter where you said we 
     have no choice but to keep driving. The choice of exactly 
     what vehicle we drive, as well as consolidating travel for 
     efficiency can cut family fuel costs by 25% or more. 
     Traveling in Europe and Central America one sees many fuel-
     efficient vehicles that are not even available to Americans: 
     the small diesel flatbeds that carry more weight than a pick-
     up truck and use less fuel to do it (they are slower going up 
     hills). While traveling in Ireland and England for a month 
     last year, we did not see even one standard pick-up truck, 
     for the reason of fuel efficiency. And I did see many quality 
     small cars and scooters that are not imported to the US, such 
     as a motor scooter with seat back and roof by BMW.
       I would also question whether your efforts to stifle 
     climate change legislation in trade for avoiding high fuel 
     costs in the short term make economic sense in the long-term 
     interests of US citizens. If what is said of climate change 
     effects comes to pass, those with credentials to know have 
     shown that taking no action to mitigate those effects now may 
     not be in the best interests of the country or our 
     descendents. Please consider the long range balance of 
     benefit here.
       I have watched inventors working on their own electric cars 
     (Orin Bridges, now deceased, here in Sandpoint converted his 
     car to electric plug-in and drove it 15 miles to town and 
     back in the 1990s, and recharged it from solar panels on the 
     roof of his mountain house). I have seen buses of college 
     kids come through teaching classes on bio-diesel, which 
     powered the bus they traveled in, also around year 2000. And 
     for decades I sold and installed solar electric modules as 
     the most economical power option for people living over half 
     a mile from the nearest power line.
       Now that world fuel production has not increased for three 
     years running and fuel demand and prices are rising, we are 
     seeing tremendous mainstream progress in looking at 
     sustainable fuel sources and independence from imported oil. 
     Please check the January edition of Scientific American for a 
     national solution for the electric grid that uses technology 
     available today, and costs no more than the Iraq war has cost 
     to date.
     Steve.

                          ____________________