[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 21, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S716-S718]
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. While energy prices have dropped in recent 
weeks, the concerns expressed remain very relevant. To respect the 
efforts of those who took the opportunity to share their thoughts, 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:

       I am an Idaho youth, currently learning how to drive, but 
     due to the ridiculously high gas prices it is not as much fun 
     as I was expecting it to be. Because of these prices I feel 
     bad about doing something I need to know how to do. I am also 
     a musician and because of that I am constantly going to 
     rehearsals and performances and need to drive in order to get 
     where I need to be. I do in fact carpool but because most of 
     the people I would carpool with also have very busy schedules 
     it is extremely hard to coordinate. Not only must I travel to 
     get to my rehearsals and performances but I am also a 
     transfer student at my school due to their spectacular music 
     program. Because I am not in the school's boundary it is 
     quite a distance for me to travel two ways every day. Simply 
     because I have a passion for music and want to pursue a 
     career in it I must break not only my own but also my 
     parents' wallets. Due to my age many people will not hire me 
     so it is quite a financial strain seeing as how I do not make 
     an income, and only so many people need a babysitter.
       I personally would greatly appreciate if the government 
     would take the time and money to look into alternative 
     renewable energy sources. Not only can we do that on a 
     national level but on a more local level we could create more 
     public transportation systems. The only place we have 
     anything is in Boise, and I, as well as many others, live in 
     Meridian. If there was a bus or light rail that I could get 
     on in my town and travel to Boise or Nampa, and anywhere in 
     between, I assure you I would use it. And, I'm pretty 
     positive that I'm not the only person who would. Not only 
     would this save many people's wallets but it would also be 
     very handy for those of us who are yet to be licensed. Not to 
     mention that the reduced number of cars would lower pollution 
     levels greatly. Please look into a public transportation 
     system locally. It would be greatly appreciated by many, and 
     thank you for finally giving the people more of a voice on 
     the issue and for bringing attention to the Congress.
     Brittan Chastaine.
                                  ____

       I assume you have already seen this website dollargas.us. 
     It seems to me that as a nation we are not only in serious 
     debt, but we are allowing ourselves to be put in ``bondage'' 
     by other countries needlessly. I am angry and frustrated that 
     we are not more assertive in addressing this problem.
       We have a family of nine children all are on their own. 
     Some are married and have young families as well as trying to 
     get through college. As you know, job wages are not very 
     substantial in college towns for students. The increase in 
     the cost of fuel is driving other costs up as well. These 
     young adults are trying very hard to make ends meet and it is 
     becoming more difficult for them to live within their means. 
     Wages are not keeping up with the cost of living. This is 
     forcing mothers out of the home and children which is not in 
     the best interest of the family.
       The rising cost of fuel is also precluding their visits to 
     our home as well as our visits to their homes. The visits are 
     the short range effect but the long range effect is 
     grandchildren having less interaction with grandparents which 
     further weakens the family structure. The family is the basic 
     unit of society and as the family weakens the values of 
     society and our nation are also weakened. There is strength, 
     honor, value and a sense of duty in knowing personal 
     heritage.
       Our livelihood is farming, luckily we have enough fuel 
     which was bought two years ago and hopefully will finish out 
     the needs for this year. It is a tragedy that farms are being 
     sold and subdivisions are taking over good Idaho farm ground. 
     Rising fuel costs and fertilizer prices are becoming a 
     serious burden.
       I do hope you will strongly support opening and drilling 
     domestic oil resources as well as other technologies that 
     provide efficient energy alternatives.
       Thank you for your time. Thank you for listening. Please 
     represent the state of Idaho in finding ways to cut rising 
     fuel and energy costs.
     Cheryl Okelberry.
                                  ____

       My husband is a Viet Nam veteran who retired after 30 years 
     with the Boise Police Department. I have worked all my life 
     so when he was eligible for retirement, we had saved and 
     planned and we were in a good position to do so. In the five 
     years since he retired, we have seen our insurance premiums 
     rise over $400 per month to $1,020 per month, and we know 
     that is a bargain! Because of oil prices, grocery prices are 
     rising, Idaho Power just raised their rates, the gas company 
     is sure to follow and fuel prices have made it almost 
     prohibitive to travel except in necessity. We have a little 
     place in the mountains and to get there now costs $90+ just 
     to enjoy a weekend away from the heat and noise in Boise. Our 
     nest egg is dwindling, and we are stuck in the house watching 
     it disappear! And we are far luckier than most--we don't have 
     to choose between food and gas, yet.
       Saudi Arabia says they make money at $70 per barrel; why is 
     the price $130? The government has so mismanaged its own 
     affairs that we find ourselves at the mercy of speculators 
     and oil shieks who don't like us much anyway. We have been so 
     short sighted that we haven't the refineries to process oil 
     even if

[[Page S717]]

     you do allow drilling in the Arctic or offshore. While France 
     gets 80% of its power from nuclear plants, we languish and 
     waste costly oil to light and power our homes when Nuclear 
     power would do the job for pennies comparatively. We need a 
     ``Manhattan Project''--throw the weight of the government and 
     the best minds behind getting nuclear facilities on line, 
     build new refineries, develop methods for cleaner burning 
     coal. Stop arguing about which side of the aisle is the right 
     side, and do something for the people you were elected to 
     represent.
     Penny Taylor, Boise.
                                  ____

       Thank you for taking the time to hear my input on fuel 
     prices. I hope this letter reaches the ears of your fellow 
     Senators. I own and operate a small business with one truck. 
     I spend approximately $700 each time I fill my truck with 
     diesel. This occurs about 3-4 times per month. I also own and 
     operate heavy equipment which costs about $800 to $1,000 per 
     month to fuel. I have raised my prices slightly, however, 
     work is scarce. Raising prices too high will result in loss 
     of work. It appears that many people in government do not 
     care about their constituents. Do you pay for fuel? How about 
     health care? Maybe we ought to vote on whether you and your 
     fellow senators should receive a fuel allowance and free 
     health care on taxpayers' money. Maybe then, you can get your 
     heads back out where the sun is shining! It is time to tell 
     the environmentalists to cram it. Start drilling in our own 
     country, providing jobs to our own people, and supplying our 
     own nation with energy. By the way, how is the government 
     going to tax electric cars? Let me guess, raise our electric 
     rates? I guess I could use biodiesel, but it costs more than 
     regular diesel. Oh yeah, big oil cannot profit from 
     biodiesel. Are you going to do anything about the oil 
     speculators? No. Reducing speculation would cut into the 
     retirement accounts of 90 percent of Senators and 
     Congressman. After all, you already have free health care and 
     fuel allowances. Why is it okay for other countries to drill 
     off our coastline, but we cannot? Quite frankly, Senator, no 
     disrespect, but something needs to be done. Enough already. 
     Tell your fellow Senators to do something.
                                                            Devin.
       Gasoline Prices at the Pump--I am sure there are many watch 
     dog groups out there looking at the record breaking profits 
     of the large oil companies, but does DOE or DOJ investigate 
     price fixing, price gouging and record profits of the large 
     oil companies? I am not talking about regulating the oil 
     industry, but just watching out for the average Joe who has 
     no option but ``has to grin and bear it'' at the pumps.
       Miles Per Gallon--Before the fleet MPG average included 
     light trucks and SUVs the automakers call a lot of cars 
     ``SUVs'' as to not include them in the car category, now that 
     light trucks and SUVs are included in the average, maybe 
     automakers will be forced to work on raising Fleet MPG 
     averages. But the MPG mandates that the government set for 
     Auto Makers to establish for their fleets is still not high 
     enough. Maybe it needs to revised each and every year and not 
     on the Washington average for change--Ten Years.
       On a personal level, I cannot run out and buy a new vehicle 
     that gets 10 percent better MPG. That would cost me 20K in 
     order to save $500 per year in gas. Maybe if all vehicles had 
     a Green rating (scale of 1-10, one being a \3/4\ ton PU and 
     10 being a 40 MPG car) and you got a tax rebate of $100 times 
     the Green rating of your primary family vehicle.
       Example: $100 times a Green rating of 8 lets you deduct 
     $800 from your taxes.
       Nuclear Power--There is a reason why France generates 80 
     percent of their electricity from Nuclear Power, it is a 
     national initiative. In the US, it's left up to large 
     electrical companies to decide whether they can make it work 
     economically before they decide to build the next generation 
     power plants. Remember, what killed the US nuclear industry 
     is not safety, fuel recycling, waste disposal but economics. 
     Look at Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant, its construction was 
     stalled to the point with legal red tape until it would never 
     make a profit for its owners and it never will. What you and 
     other politicians need to do its step forward and mandate DOE 
     to fund, build and operate the next generation nuclear power 
     plant as a National Strategic Initiative. It is essential to 
     the Nations Security as any Military Base, Port Security 
     Effort or any other effort to keep this country safe in the 
     world. If the government does it ``strong arm method'' and it 
     gets done (on time and with in budget) and it is demonstrated 
     how safe and economically feasible it is, commercial Nuclear 
     Power Plant Building will follow.
       Alternative forms of electrical generation either need an 
     increase in their incentives (they almost did not get 
     extended this year) or Carbon Producers (Coal and Oil Power 
     Plant) need higher ``Carbon Taxes''.
       Electrical Reduction at Home--I would love to install new 
     windows in my home, but at $6,000 to replace all my windows, 
     I need help in the form of tax credits in order to afford it. 
     If the government reinstituted many of its programs from the 
     70's to help pay for home improvements, it would help.
     John K., Ammon.
                                  ____

       I have been traveling back and forth from Burly every 
     weekend for the past couple of years. My ex-husband took my 
     kids from me in the divorce because I could not afford to pay 
     for a lawyer. He then moved from Boise to Burly to be closer 
     to his parents who had moved back to Burly a couple of years 
     earlier. The trip used to cost about sixty dollars to get 
     them and then take them back later. I make the trip so my 
     parents and I can spend time with my children. I have been 
     forced to cut that back to every other week because it costs 
     us almost a hundred dollars each time to go and get them. It 
     breaks my heart.
       Now solutions to high gas prices:
       For one drill our resources in and around the US. Open up 
     everything: Alaska, the coast, outer continental shelf, 
     everywhere. We need to have both Congress and the President 
     lift their moratoriums on this issue. We must start now 
     because the problem will still exist in five and even ten 
     years. It may get better for a time but it will come back 
     again and again if we don't solve it.
       Secondly we need to begin to convert coal and shale to oil. 
     Converting coal to oil is more than sixty-five year old 
     technology. My understanding is that shale is a more recent 
     technology, but very reasonable. We need to have Congress 
     back companies to convert these products to oil with a 
     subsidy that in the event that prices drop below profitable 
     levels that these companies will not be out billions of 
     dollars. OPEC dropped prices last time we attempted to become 
     oil independent. They will do it again. We need to be energy 
     independent regardless of what OPEC does with prices this 
     time or this will happen again.
       Lastly develop nuclear power. We need to take our 
     expendable resources away from electric production. Nuclear 
     power is a viable alternative especially considering recent 
     technology advances in this field.
       We must take control of our own destiny. Take the power 
     away from foreign countries.
     Angela.
                                  ____

       I am disgusted with our legislators in the federal 
     government. They aren't acting in our best interests, nor 
     have they for many years. I do not trust them to do right by 
     the U.S. citizens; collectively, greed and the lust for power 
     have become commonplace and acceptable behavior among many 
     legislators.
       I retired last year but am going to have to find a part 
     time job to help make ends meet, as prices in general are 
     escalating faster than my fixed income in retirement. I do 
     not have the answers, but I am sure that our legislators own 
     stock in the major oil companies, and that pretty much says 
     it all. Americans are just a big cash cow for our ravenous 
     government to feed upon.
       Additionally, I wanted to add something regarding the 
     transit system in the Treasure Valley. I am from Seattle and 
     have seen the problems the Puget Sound area has experienced 
     as a result of rapid growth. The transit system in the 
     Treasure Valley is way behind in its development. The City 
     and county fathers had better do something soon. But the 
     transit system issue doesn't seem to be holding a place of 
     great importance in the development of this area. That's 
     worrisome. There should be more advertising and incentives 
     for people to use the transit system, and more routes made 
     available. Encouraging ridership is important, but it needs 
     to be (and can be) made more convenient and attractive.
       Thanks for your time.
     Gretchen, Nampa.
                                  ____

       Thank you for your concern about our high energy costs. We 
     are very concerned about this issue because it is hitting our 
     household in two ways. We own a small trucking company and to 
     be truthful, we don't know how much longer we will be able to 
     run. The rising price of diesel is making our profit margin 
     shrink and our own household budget is struggling to make 
     ends meet. It is difficult to expand our budget for the 
     rising energy costs, because the money just isn't there. We 
     are doing the best we can, but it is so frustrating when we 
     feel that our own country is not utilizing its own energy 
     sources. It is time to allow drilling offshore and in our own 
     country for oil and natural gas. We also can further 
     knowledge in alternative energy sources at the same time. 
     Those two ideas should not oppose each other, they can and 
     should both be explored.
       Please vote for those measures that would allow both 
     pursuits
       Thank you,
     Ralph and Julie Miller.
                                  ____

       I feel very depressed that our country is going down the 
     tubes all being done by the left wing special interests. I 
     would like to see a full blown debate on global warming. Just 
     because the father of the Internet, Al Gore, says it so and 
     the UN agrees does not mean that it is true. We are told all 
     kinds of things that are happening and are suppose to agree 
     when one simple question should be asked: Has it happened 
     before? Why not ask this simple question ask when pictures 
     showing glaciers melting, hurricanes, cyclones, etc.? We need 
     to put all these doomsday projections into perspective. In 
     college I took geology 101 and one of the things that I 
     remember is the world is always changing.
       I was also an economics major and was taught about supply 
     and demand. I was taught that if the demand went up and the 
     supply stayed the same, the price went up. I guess that I 
     should have been taught you demagogues it. Do the liberals 
     have one idea on how to increase the supply. I would like to 
     see Republicans stand up and take a strong position that we 
     need to secure our future by drilling. We need to get back to 
     what made the country great. The one thing that makes a 
     country great verses a socialist country is a free market 
     that will sort out

[[Page S718]]

     the problem if left free. Republican Party used to stand for 
     something and it needs to again. What happened to small 
     government, sound economic policies, stay out of our way? We 
     have a drug benefit plan but would it be better if they 
     allowed a free market to bring prices down. I used to get my 
     US manufactured meds from Canada but now pay a little less 
     under a Medicare plan. If they can sell in Canada and make 
     money, why not in the US? Why not free trade and competition?
       By the way, because of the lack of sun spots we might be 
     going into a little ice age, then what will the politicians 
     do?
       Thank you for reading this.
     Bob.

                          ____________________