[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 30 (Friday, February 13, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2316-S2318]
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.

[[Page S2317]]

  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

       I am a working class American male, fighting to maintain a 
     standard of living which will enable me to provide for myself 
     and my family. I find it difficult to imagine why we would 
     continue as a country to be held host to foreign oil.
       I find that prices of everything are rising because of the 
     cost of shipping, and some members of Congress I hear think 
     this is a good thing? Sir, I am pleased that you would want 
     to hear from us, but realistically I am less than convinced 
     that much will be done by a body of people who seem so 
     unwilling and unable to work together as the current Congress 
     appears.
       I used to be optimistic that one voice could make a 
     difference and now have resigned myself to believe that by 
     and large those who sit in the ``hallowed halls of Congress'' 
     care only for their power and position and nothing for us as 
     citizens. The price of groceries continues to rise, the price 
     of fuel driving everything higher, shippers cannot afford to 
     transport goods, and I find the future bleak. How long before 
     the trucking industry, the shipping industry, railways and 
     airlines stop because no one can afford to pay the cost?
       Foodstuffs such as corn are now being grown for fuel, 
     driving those prices higher and yet no relief is felt at the 
     pump. It seems clear to me that two things must happen; first 
     we must become energy independent, drilling within our own 
     borders, and second finding alternative forms of energy to 
     prevent this from happening. Please use whatever powers of 
     persuasion you possess to convince your fellow Senators to 
     listen and feel the crunch that is crippling our nation!
     Albert.
                                  ____

       My wife and I were born in Idaho (I in Kellogg and my wife 
     in Pocatello) and I work at the INL although I am currently 
     on assignment at the Yucca Mountain Project.
       How Do Gas Prices Impact Us and the Nation
       I am 67 and my wife is 63 and, with the high cost of gas, 
     we are afraid to retire. These were supposed to be the 
     ``golden years'' and they are far from that. It is driving up 
     the cost of food and other items that must be shipped by 
     truck and is killing the auto industry. Because of all of 
     these cost increases and the uncertainties it is creating in 
     our economy, the stock market is also dropping and pulling 
     down what retirement investments that we have. Although 
     health care and other issues are also on our mind, I fear 
     that high gas prices are dragging our country to its knees 
     and it is spreading in all directions. They use to say that 
     if we lost Vietnam, it would have the domino effect and we 
     would lose all of that part of Asia.
       Well, high gas prices are definitely causing a domino 
     effect, and as people travel less it impacts everyone who 
     support the travel industry. Look what it is doing to the 
     airline industry. The impact of high gas prices is spreading 
     everywhere. I wonder how long it will take to get beyond this 
     mess. Should I plan to retire at 70 or maybe I should think 
     about 75?


                      What to Do About Gas Prices

       The country is now looking toward nuclear power and that is 
     great. Wind and solar power might help a little, but they 
     cannot produce enough. And drilling for more oil in new 
     locations could also help. But these are all long-term 
     solutions that cannot help today. I think what makes us 
     frustrated is that the oil companies are making record 
     profits and they aren't doing anything to help the country. 
     It is sort of like their attitude is to take the money and 
     run. So if you want to do something in the short term, you 
     need to deal with them now. Congress needs to look into how 
     much they pay their CEOs and put a cap on that amount. When a 
     CEO makes 100 or 1,000 times more than the President or you, 
     Mike as a Senator, something is wrong. Congress also needs to 
     look into what they are doing with these record profits. They 
     claim that they are doing more exploration but we as the 
     public cannot see this. They should be forced to make public 
     what they are doing with the profits. I do not see them 
     building any new refineries. They should be forced to do 
     that. But you see, why would they want to build new 
     refineries when they have created a shortage that makes money 
     for them. We are asking the Saudis to pump more oil but we do 
     not ask our own oil companies to build more refineries. 
     Congress needs to ``get into their rice bowl'' as they. And 
     if the oil companies do not want to be part of this, Congress 
     should tax their profits beyond a certain point and use the 
     money to supplement gas prices. In the past during times of 
     war, Congress has created excess profit taxes to take the 
     profit out of war and they should do that now. We are in a 
     domestic war and it is killing our country. Or Congress 
     should look at their profits and set gas prices for them. Set 
     regular gas, for example, at $3.00 per gallon and the next 
     year if their profits are still beyond reason, drop it down 
     to $2.50 per gallon.
       Thanks for working on this issue Mike. My wife and I are 
     worried for our country. We do not know where all of this is 
     going, but it does not look good.
     Jim.
                                  ____

       We, as a Nation, have been irresponsible in allowing 
     ourselves to be dependent upon foreign sources for our energy 
     needs. And now, we are all paying the painful price. It is 
     ignorant to believe that we can just purchase all our energy 
     from other countries and in doing so, save the environment. 
     We have some of the strictest standards in place in the 
     United States to prevent damage to the environment, and yet 
     we allow other countries without those standards to pollute 
     the environment in the production of our energy. This is 
     burying our heads in the sand.
       We have vastly improved our technologies since the early 
     1980s when the bans on offshore drilling were put into 
     effect. We would not expect to see the same problems we had 
     in the past if we were to resume that drilling today. We also 
     need to address the fact that we have not built any new 
     refineries in this country, and that is a necessary piece to 
     our energy needs puzzle. We have vast resources of oil 
     reserves that are untouched, mostly due to the cries of the 
     environmentalists, who are using their hearts instead of 
     their minds to raise their objections.
       I have a dear friend who is an independent trucker out of 
     Pennsylvania, who has been doing a long-haul run from there 
     to the Northwest for over 10 years now. He has been watching 
     his profits be reduced by thousands of dollars per run, a 
     reduction that he is not able to simply pass along. After 
     almost 25 years of trucking, he is now contemplating 
     something else for the future. What will we, as a nation, do 
     if enough of our truckers quit due to the rising fuel costs? 
     We do not have enough alternatives in place to move our 
     goods, and without moving our goods, our economy will 
     collapse. We, individually, understand the impact on our 
     family budgets for energy increases, but we have not yet 
     begun to feel the entire impact that will trickle down to our 
     level.
       We need to develop our own energy. We need to allow more 
     drilling. We need to allow refineries to be built. We need to 
     allow nuclear power plants to be built. We need to develop 
     such things as wind energy and tap waste sources such as 
     landfills for methane gas. We need permanent tax incentives 
     for the installation and use of renewables such as solar and 
     wind. We need to develop a usable hydrogen power. And that 
     should just be the start.
       Yes, the increase in fuel has cost me and is hampering my 
     lifestyle. But I fear that, if the current prices become 
     permanent, then the costs to me will be so much greater than 
     they are today, and that is unacceptable.
       Thank you for your time in reading this.
     Monica.
                                  ____

       In September 2007 my husband changed jobs due to a long 
     commute and high gas prices. He had been travelling from 
     Weston, Idaho, to Promontory, Utah (132 miles round trip), 
     and had done so for the last sixteen years. In September, he 
     took a new job in Logan, Utah, which was half the commute. 
     However, in the exchange, he also took a $4.50/hr cut in pay. 
     We were okay because of the shorter commute and we were 
     saving in gas. Now, with the higher, much higher fuel prices, 
     we not only have lost the fuel savings but still have the cut 
     in wages. It is getting very difficult to make ends meet. 
     High fuel costs are affecting every aspect of our lives--
     food, utilities, etc. We are supportive of drilling America's 
     own oil so we are not reliant on outside sources. Speed 
     limits could also be reduced and enforced. We drive small 
     fuel-efficient vehicles, unlike many who are driving large 
     trucks and SUVs. Americans need to wake up. Farmers in our 
     area are really struggling. Fuel prices are making it very 
     difficult to plant and harvest crops. We just need some 
     relief. We appreciate your asking our input and support your 
     efforts in getting the people of Idaho and America some 
     relief.
     Richard and Christy, Weston.
                                  ____

       We need to start drilling now.
       I am an Idaho resident and, because of work, commute weekly 
     from Idaho to Washington. The fuel costs are affecting me by 
     not only personal use of my cars but also air fare and food 
     for my farm animals and us.
       There is so much oil out there in the US, i.e., shale oil, 
     oil from coal, onshore and offshore oil. Until the new 
     technology comes out for autos and electrical energy we need 
     to use the fuel that we have instead of punishing the people 
     of this country--by listening to the eco terror people, green 
     peace and the others. They are the ones that created the 
     problem plus the new socialist democrats. Who are taking our 
     freedoms away? Oh, one more thing the man caused global 
     warming is a fraud it is natural climate changes. Look at the 
     past.
     Thomas.
                                  ____

       I do not have much to say but this. I work as a restaurant 
     manager and I see firsthand the domino effect of the energy/
     gas crisis. Restaurants are the first to view the troubled 
     economy. Our sales are down, not saying how much. Food cost 
     is rising. People are not coming out to eat. My Team Members 
     are getting hours cut and not making enough money to even 
     survive, let alone put gas in their tanks. My staff is the 
     first hit by any economy issue and our sales have dropped 
     drastically. My restaurant and its staff members who are in a 
     crisis state. Someone needs to do something.
     Brandy, Boise.
                                  ____

       To Whom It May Concern:
       I ride my bike almost everywhere I go so my gas price is 
     $0/gallon. Also, my pollution impact is minimal as is my road 
     impact, and my health is excellent.
                                                      Mike, Boise.

[[Page S2318]]

     
                                  ____
       Thank you for the opportunity to provide input on this 
     critical input. I am employed as an Environmental Engineer at 
     the Idaho National Laboratory--Materials Fuels Complex--a 
     nuclear fuels research facility.
       Impacts--to name a few:
       Greatly reduced discretionary travel and spending
       Marked increase in cost of food and consumables
       Recent need to reduce percentage of income saved for 
     retirement and college tuition for our children.
       Huge increase in cost associated with heating home (Rocky 
     Mountain Power) and irrigate my property.
       Enormous cost increase in corn feed and fertilizer
       Inability to afford herbicides necessary to combat noxious 
     weeds on property
       Decreased property values of vacation home in Island Park 
     Idaho--given drastically reduced numbers of vacation visitors 
     to Fremont Co. since gas and diesel have gone sky high.
       The high fuel costs have created an atmosphere in virtually 
     all commodities that the producer can falsely claim that 
     their higher prices charged are merely a result of higher 
     energy costs.
       Suggested Actions:
       Build infrastructure in U.S.--new, strategically located 
     refineries,--this is not just a crude oil problem, and our 
     refineries are antiquated.
       Provide incentives to oil and gas companies to expand 
     exploration--lower their corporate tax.
       Prohibit reinstatement of windfall profits taxes.
       Eliminate overly burdensome environmental/permitting 
     hurdles for petroleum exploration, siting and operation of 
     oil refineries, extraction/processing of oil shale, oils 
     sands, etc.
       Target drastically higher dollars for University research 
     of petroleum exploration, extraction, and refining 
     technologies.

                Develop ANWR and all offshore resources

       Develop natural gas distribution infrastructure--to gain 
     access to the huge natural gas reserves in North America.
       Never sign up to the Law of the Sea Treaty.
       Reject Cap and Trade.
       Sign on to No global warming (hoax) treaties or 
     initiatives.
       Play economic hardball with China and India, whom subsidize 
     their citizens' use of petroleum products.
       Firmly commandeer Iraq's oil reserves as partial 
     compensation for the loss of life and financial burden of the 
     Iraq war.
       Thank you for the opportunity. P.S.--the U.S. is not too 
     dependent upon fossil fuels; we are not using what we have on 
     U.S. and adjacent soil wisely, or at all.
     Paul, Idaho Falls.
                                  ____

       I really appreciate your efforts to help out the public. I 
     work as a receptionist at St Alphonsus. Many patients are 
     canceling their appointments primarily because they cannot 
     afford to drive, even if it is 5 miles away. The public is 
     not happy because of the gas prices.
       My fiance and I just moved closer to where I work. If we 
     did not I would not be able to afford the gas to come to 
     work. The rising gas prices are making the gap bigger between 
     the rich and the poor. Something does need to be done 
     quickly. The greed needs to come to an end and the government 
     is the only force here in the United States big enough to 
     help out the public.
       Thanks for understanding,
     Megan, Boise
                                  ____

       Years ago I was pleased to be able to wait on your wife as 
     she drove thru the MPCU teller window in Idaho Falls. With 
     her in the Suburban were a passel of kids. Now I also have a 
     few children, and these days with energy costs skyrocketing 
     beyond the means of many families I think it is important to 
     speak up. I think twice every time I drive my van because of 
     the costs. We normally visit my family in Idaho Falls four 
     times per year and this year will only be able to reasonably 
     afford two times, and a major component of that decision is 
     the cost of fuel. My husband is an engineer and drives 
     approximately 20 miles round trip to work every day. He and 
     another co worker commute to save fuel. We have not had as 
     much disposable income as heating, cooling and fuel prices 
     have climbed at an astonishing pace. We have stopped eating 
     as much meat because of the cost of it. I water down the milk 
     to make it go further. We fortunately live far below our 
     means, but many families are not as fortunate as we are. One 
     of my dear friends works in 30 miles away, and drives there 
     from Moscow every day. With a long daily commute, and with 
     higher prices looming on the horizon who knows what this 
     winter will bring. She said that if it goes up much more she 
     will not make enough money to justify the driving.
       I am not asking for the government to fix this. The 
     American people are resilient, and the government's 
     micromanagement of energy opportunities has only led us to 
     higher prices. You can bet if the oil companies are penalized 
     for their comparatively tiny per gallon profit, prices will 
     continue to climb.
       What I propose is for government to get out of the way. 
     Pave the road to energy independence with reduced regulation 
     and open opportunity for exploration of all energy sources. 
     We should pursue coal to oil, nuclear, wind, methane, natural 
     gas and every other type of fuel, with the goal of being 
     energy independent. If the government will just be 
     reasonable, we could do all these things. I appreciate your 
     service, and your request for stories. Thank you for 
     remembering that you are there in our place, remind the 
     others that they are too.
     Emily, Moscow.
                                  ____

       First I must say that I am a retired federal employee with 
     34 years of service. As you know living on a fixed income is 
     not easy at best, but with the cost of gas going up that is 
     affecting EVERYTHING. I have cut back on all non essential 
     driving--even to travel 50 miles to see my elderly parents 
     (80 & 78) once a week to help them out. I have cut back on 
     how often I mow the lawn to once every 2 weeks. I do not own 
     any recreation toys such as campers, 4-wheelers, boats or 
     motorcycles so cannot cut any RV usages. There will be very 
     limited vacation trips this summer. . . . Maybe to take my 
     grandsons camping.
       I can remember back prior to the 70's gas scare when the 
     government had more controls on the oil companies and gas was 
     much more reasonable and there was still exploration being 
     done by the oil companies. Now without controls these 
     companies are having record net profits (enough to lower the 
     cost of gas close to $1.00 a gallon), why is this happening? 
     Also the stock market futures on oil dictate price increases 
     before the crude is even bought, but the drops in crude never 
     seem to get passed on to consumers at the same rate as the 
     increases . . . again why is this?
       There was a march protesting the petroleum prices here in 
     Lewiston a couple of weeks ago . . . what else can the people 
     do to get thru to our government?
       Thank you for the opportunity to voice my frustrations.
       Sincerely,
     Bob.
                                  ____

       We must do all we can to mitigate the energy crisis 
     gripping this nation. We can and must become energy 
     independent on natural gas in America. We have the resources 
     here to achieve this. Start drilling. Prices are on track to 
     double by this winter. However, the brutal truth is that the 
     neo-American Bolshevik socialist left in this country will 
     tie this nation up in the courts for years to prevent this 
     and force their agenda on this nation. They are arrogantly 
     smug about their ability to control us now. And well they 
     should be. They have been trained by some of the finest 
     Marxist professors anywhere in the world today, right here in 
     the USA. In the end, our epitaph will read that we destroyed 
     ourselves with the very freedoms that made us the envy of the 
     free world. May almighty God forgive us for what we have 
     allowed to happen to this grand experiment in human freedom.
     Randy.

                          ____________________