[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 24 (Friday, February 6, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1861-S1862]
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:

       The bicycle is a very big part of the answer to high gas 
     prices and so many more problems that Idahoans face. The use 
     of bicycles reduces demand for fossil fuels. If demand goes 
     down, prices will follow downward. Furthermore, increased use 
     of bicycles puts no pollutants into the air that we and 
     future generations breathe. Use of bicycles promotes better 
     health by adding consistent daily exercise to our daily lives 
     and will lead to a slimmer, healthier and better quality of 
     life for all Americans. Better health leads to lower demand 
     on our health care system also.
       I urge you to please support increased bicycle friendly 
     infrastructure in our transportation system for all the right 
     reasons, only a few of which I have listed here today.
     Andrew, Mountain Home.
                                  ____

       I am a pastor in Caldwell and have found that the elevating 
     fuel costs have made it where I have to spend my day deciding 
     whether or not I will visit people in my congregation. The 
     sick, the hospitalized, the elderly, the families that are 
     feeling the impact of all this . . . it all rolls down to 
     making a decision, ``Can I afford to go and see them?'' It is 
     a sad thing. Because when I make the decision to go and see 
     them, I impact my family as well. But they need to be 
     visited. So I go. Please Senator, do what you can to help us 
     Idahoans enjoy the quality of life without having to worry 
     about the cost of life. God bless,
     Troy, Caldwell.
                                  ____

       You asked a good question. And I thank you for doing so.
       How have high energy prices affected our lives?
       We have been fortunate that the high price of fuel is 
     merely an inconvenience and not a devastating disturbance in 
     our lives. We have also planned wisely for this and are 
     careful with our fuel consumption. We drive small commutes 
     and patronize businesses in our immediate area. We have made 
     good choices and take responsibility for our actions. We do 
     not play victim to political arm-wrestling.
       I agree with a previous response: ``I think that the high 
     prices for gas/diesel that we're experiencing are a necessary 
     evil. It is time for this entire country, but our politicians 
     in Washington . . . to wake up & realize that the amount of 
     petroleum on this planet based is finite. The current problem 
     with prices should not be dealt with by some . . . Band-
     Aid.'' In other words, Idahoans need to wake up and realize 
     that high fuel prices are not a sign of the times--they are 
     here to stay and it is time to start thinking like the rest 
     of the world when it comes to fuel consumption. Americans 
     (and Idahoans) need to scale down vehicles, increase mpg, 
     turn necessary travel into opportunities to be active 
     (walking, riding a bicycle, etc.) and look into mass 
     transit. Duh. Why are we so slow to welcome these 
     alternatives?
       I think Idahoans should be given an annual tax credit for 
     operating vehicles that get more than 20 mpg and/or for 
     limiting miles traveled. It is time Idahoans start thinking 
     globally and not just selfishly when it comes to 
     transportation. Vehicles are for function only; they are not 
     for status. I am shocked by how many Idahoans still think big 
     trucks and big wheels are some kind of status symbol. To 
     educated, environmentally conscious Idahoans it just spells 
     ignorance. And in our beautiful valley, as the smog 
     increases, these people are completely unaware or uncaring of 
     what their egos are doing to our air quality. I have three 
     small children, two with asthma. The depletion of our air 
     quality often leaves us trapped indoors. As their mother this 
     makes me sad and frustrated and as a life-long Boise citizen 
     who never experienced these ``red alerts'' growing up, this 
     makes me furious.
       Please Senator Crapo, ask your fellow Idahoans to think 
     globally, act locally and give them financial incentive to do 
     so. Right now.
     Jacqui, Boise.
                                  ____

       I would like to share my story about the effects of gas 
     prices on my life. I believe that prices are affecting 
     businesses all around so that there is less employment 
     available. I know they have an effect on the economy; so many 
     people are cutting down on their expenses. I had one job 
     where I was required to sell a product to customers. When I 
     was talking to people who were already having financial 
     difficulties I could not feel very good about adding another 
     financial burden on them. Because of a scarcity in decent 
     jobs around here, I have not been able to come up with a 
     decent enough income to be able to buy a car. I have also 
     felt persuaded away from wanting to buy a car because the gas 
     prices are so high.
       There are several solutions to the problems of the oil 
     crisis and inflation in the economy.

[[Page S1862]]

     I have heard that we have stores of our own oil here in the 
     U.S. which we should take advantage of. The idea of hydrogen 
     powered cars could also be a good solution. Nuclear power is 
     very efficient, and it is as safe and clean as many other 
     energy sources we are using. Whether we used nuclear power 
     for energy in our cities, or if we used it in our 
     transportation such as cars and airplanes, it would be a wise 
     move. I know there are energy sources that we are not taking 
     advantage of, but we should be. Let us fix these problems.
     Jordi, Shelley.
                                  ____

       I read where you are asking input from Idahoans on how the 
     high energy costs are affecting us. To put it simply, I am 
     going broke.
       Everything has gone up. My gas bill has gone up 100 
     percent. Groceries have gone up 40 percent. I cannot 
     calculate how much other prices have gone up but they have. 
     Every month I have less and less. And unlike some people, I 
     cannot vote myself a pay raise.
       I do agree with drilling for oil now off the coast and in 
     Alaska. People need to know that China wants to drill for oil 
     some 60 miles off of our coasts. I hear we have enough oil to 
     be rid of the Arabs and other hostile countries for at least 
     30 years. By then we can have alternatives to oil. People say 
     it will take seven years to start drilling for oil if we lift 
     the ban now. Well, if we don't how high will oil be in seven 
     years? What on earth will our economy and national security 
     will be like in seven years?
       I read where Japan has a car that runs on water. On Fox 
     News they did a story on a fellow by the name of Denny Klein 
     (?) who invented a new process for splitting water into 
     hydrogen and is running his car off of it. He supposedly has 
     a contract with the Department of Defense. I asked Congress 
     if this was so but no one will answer for me.
       I do not believe that corn for fuel is the right thing to 
     do. It takes one and a half times as much energy to produce 
     it and it gets about one-third less in gas mileage. Now who 
     wants that? It is like when the Mars Company made a candy bar 
     that was smaller and cost more and said it is what the 
     customer wants. What the heck? Also, you know corn for fuel 
     will compete with corn for food, as will growing other 
     crops for fuel instead of food. If the competition for 
     food and land does not drive up the cost, the government's 
     mandate and subsidies will.
       I believe we need more nuclear power plants. There are a 
     number of designs out there that are proven and are cheap. I 
     believe DuPont has come up with a cheap, reliable design, or 
     perhaps Westinghouse. Even Japan has offered the cheap design 
     they have. However, true to our government's way of doing 
     business, DOE will hear nothing of it. DOE is determined to 
     reinvent the wheel. I do know that DOE has turned down 
     outside jobs at the INL. I say get DOE out of the picture and 
     let the private sector do what it does best. And if it is 
     shown that our own oil companies are doing what the Arabs are 
     doing (artificially manipulating the market) then nail them 
     to the wall. Last year Idaho kept asking why is it that 
     Idahoans have to pay more for gas than other states. At first 
     the oil executives touted ``supply and demand.'' Blah blah. 
     Later they flat out admitted that the cost of gas in Idaho 
     was higher because of lack of competition. They flat out said 
     it on the news.
       Also, the president has what we call an executive order. He 
     should use it when it comes to energy. If Congress doesn't 
     get its act together and do something (and it has done 
     nothing for over 30 years) about our energy needs, our 
     national security will be at stake. So I feel that the 
     president should just say to heck with the idiot liberals in 
     Congress and the stupid environmentalists and use an 
     executive order to get things going. When it is a real 
     emergency just think what the government will do then. It may 
     be a lot worse. Or is that the intent of some politicians 
     (for power or money)?
     Dewey, Idaho Falls.
                                  ____

       Since my kids are out of school I am not having to fill my 
     minivan as frequently. My husband will be riding his scooter 
     to work for as long as weather and temps permit. When we 
     filled our Explorer last week it cost us $85. My husband's 
     job like many others is not completely secure and I am going 
     to school fulltime working on my Masters and not able to work 
     because we cannot afford day care. Things would be less of a 
     concern for us if we were renters and not homeowners with a 
     mortgage. This fuel and economic crisis could result in us 
     losing our home if it continues to spiral downward. My dad's 
     hay operation is also taking a blow due to fuel prices.
       I consider myself a conservationist and think protecting 
     the environment is important and I believe that new drilling 
     for oil needs to be done and that it can be done in a manner 
     that is more eco-friendly compared to the practices that were 
     occurring when areas were declared off limits to drilling 30 
     to 40 years ago.
       The current economic situation is not really going to allow 
     for a lot of new projects within our own state to address 
     concerns. Serious considerations need to be made to make 
     transportation within the state and heavily populated areas 
     easier. I know there are attempts being made to have Amtrak 
     services returned to the southern part of the state. A rail 
     transit system in the Treasure Valley has been considered a 
     number of times but has never gone anywhere. I know if such a 
     system existed our family would use it.
     Christine, Nampa.
                                  ____

       I would like to thank you for giving Idahoans this 
     opportunity to e-mail you and let you know how we feel about 
     high gas and energy costs and how it is affecting us. I do 
     not know what you alone can do, but if you could persuade the 
     other politicians to get off their pedestals and do something 
     that really makes a difference, that would be a good thing.
       The high energy costs are affecting everything. The cost of 
     groceries is up, cost of utilities is up, everything but how 
     much a person takes home in their paycheck is up. It does not 
     take a rocket scientist to figure out that spells doom for 
     the economy and for the average people in this country.
       Very wealthy people really are not as affected by this as 
     the middle class and poor are affected, Mr. Crapo. It is 
     always at the cost of the middle class and poor that the 
     government operates and gets its taxes. The rich are able to 
     find loop holes and do not feel the effects like the average 
     people do. Once again, with the cost of fuel and expenses 
     going through the roof, it is the middle class and poor who 
     suffer.
       It is because politicians listen to lobbyists and special 
     interest groups, allow their palms to be greased by those 
     with special interests, such as environmentalists, that we 
     are in the situation we are in now. Something should have 
     been done 10 to 15 years ago to assure our stability with 
     fuel. It was known by anybody with a brain that we were 
     heading down this road, but instead, politicians were swayed 
     by environmentalist money and influence to stay dependant on 
     Middle Eastern oil as well as from other foreign countries. 
     So now, we find ourselves in a crisis. Politicians are 
     elected to represent the majority, or so I thought. It seems 
     though, that concern for those with the most money has become 
     more important. We are now paying the price for bad decisions 
     that have been made over the last 10 to 15 years.
       It is time for action on the part of the elected officials, 
     Mr. Crapo. We, the people, the majority--would like to see 
     some action instead of words. We are in a crisis, we are 
     absolutely heading for a depression, and if it is to be 
     avoided, something other than empty words must be done.
       This country has been very blessed, even the poor in our 
     country are better off than many people who live in other 
     countries where they have very little to nothing. 
     Unfortunately, our government is making bad decisions and I 
     fear that there are some really bad times in store for this 
     country. You would think that history would teach people 
     something, but, unfortunately human beings just seem to keep 
     making the same mistakes over and over again, and the results 
     do not ever change. History shows that no government or 
     empire ever goes beyond about 200 years . . . where are we? 
     Has our government really done anything different than any of 
     the other governments in history? nope! Greed, power, 
     corruption . . . all ruined every government or dictatorship 
     that ever existed. Our government, the so called ``For the 
     People, By the People'' government, is no different.
       I would love to see the people take back this country 
     again, but unfortunately so many of them live off of the 
     government, it will not happen. Why would they bite the hand 
     that feeds them?
       Take action Mr. Crapo. Get these capped off oil wells re-
     opened, get ANWAR opened up and going, get offshore oil wells 
     running, and let us start being smart and use the wind, and 
     any other resource we have to get us off of foreign 
     dependency on oil and energy. We are owned by those we depend 
     on sir, I am sure you know that. We are now owned by China, 
     the Middle East, and Venezuela because they control our money 
     and energy. Very frightening.
       Thanks for taking the time to hear what the people have to 
     say. I hope you were able to have the time to get through 
     this long letter.
     Denise.

                          ____________________