[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 34 (Thursday, February 26, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2555-S2556]
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:

       My fiance and I bought a home in Caldwell in May and we 
     moved out of his parents' home. While living with his 
     parents, we paid rent and part of the bills. We knew, when we 
     moved, we would be fine. Unlike many people, we know how to 
     live within our means and stay below that mark in case of an 
     emergency--like the cost of gas increasing at such an 
     astronomical rate. His parents are a different story. They 
     are in the group that overextended themselves, got the big 
     house loan that any banker with common sense should have said 
     no to but gave them the loan anyway with an adjustable rate. 
     At the time, we knew if they gave up a couple of things (like 
     cable tv) they would make ends meet. That is far from the 
     truth now. In just a couple of months, gas has gone up and 
     affected every end of life. Food is now more expensive. Other 
     items like shampoo, cleaners, clothing, and medications have 
     increased too with no end in sight. Even if they gave up the 
     cable tv, drinking, smoking and anything extra, they can 
     barely make it now. Sometimes I feel guilty for moving out 
     and trying to create our own household and family. A child 
     should be able to move out, make it with a supposedly `living 
     wage job' (which is rare and far in-between in the state of 
     Idaho) and not have to either run back to the parents because 
     the economy has sunk to the black hole of doom or have the 
     parents move in with them because they are not capable of 
     supporting themselves in the same economy.
       Congress needs to stop bickering and aggravating each other 
     and be adults--work together; otherwise those states they are 
     supposedly working for are going to crash and burn. I know it 
     is an election year and each party is trying to get their 
     person elected. I also know the economy goes into a dive 
     during said election year due to uncertainty about the next 
     president and possible outcome of policies and bills. I am 
     all for increasing domestic oil production if regulations are 
     put in affect to help `guide' the sales and thus restricting 
     gas and fuel from skyrocketing like it is. OPEC said it would 
     increase production yet oil futures increase on the stock 
     markets. This is getting out of hand and a small group of 
     people are profiting greatly while draining the hard earned 
     money from everyone. It will backfire and it will not be 
     pretty. Instead of fighting with the oil companies, tell them 
     fine, thanks for all the fish. Get new technology and 
     alternative fuel sources reved up. Stop the oil companies 
     from bullying smaller companies from developing new fuel 
     sources. Take the tax breaks from the oil companies and give 
     them to the companies who have proven examples of alternative 
     fuels and technology to work with said alternative fuels. 
     Give people who do not own one of those massive Hummers or 
     SUVs a tax break. Because those who bought the massive 
     Hummers and SUVs did not help the situation and they knew it. 
     I know it is unfair, but punishing those who used common 
     sense and chose the practical Ford Fusion over the Hummer 
     because they thought and realized that the Hummer was 
     overkill on the road is unfair too. I would say we need more 
     public transportation, but Idaho is not `public 
     transportation' friendly. What works in Seattle and Portland 
     would be a cosmic joke in this state. Our communities are 
     spread out to the point a public transportation system would 
     only work with the Star Trek shuttles or transporter. In 
     other words, it is not realistic. These are just my opinions 
     and a small drop of concern in a huge lake.
     Krista.
                                  ____

       The price of gasoline is the cause of my debt going up. 
     With a family of 5, it is hard to cut back anymore than I 
     already have. My wife and I use our vehicles less than we 
     have in the past, but we still are finding it hard to make 
     ends meet due to the fact that when the price of gasoline 
     goes up so does the price of food, clothes, electricity, and 
     many other everyday necessities.
       For a solution I cannot understand why the only car company 
     (that I know of) making a natural gas-fueled car is Honda 
     (Honda GX) and the only hydrogen car (that I know of) is made 
     by Honda (Honda FCX). I believe if there were easy access to 
     natural gas gas stations and easy access to hydrogen fuel 
     stations that the cost of the natural gas car and the 
     hydrogen car would be equal to the price that gasoline-
     powered cars are. I keep hearing about how we need to start 
     drilling offshore for oil, but if we would use vehicles not 
     powered by gasoline, we would not need to do any offshore 
     drilling. I am sure there are inventors out there with ideas 
     for cars powered by something other than gasoline, besides 
     the natural gas and hydrogen, that are not being given the 
     opportunity to mass market their ideas. It looks to me like 
     we have chosen to be dependent on oil and that car companies 
     refuse to look for alternatives to gasoline powered cars. 
     Honda may be making the alternative fuel cars, but they are 
     not making the cars available to the masses, although Honda 
     does not build hydrogen or natural gas gas stations. Without 
     easy access to the fuel need for the hydrogen, natural gas, 
     and even the electric car then you are not truly giving the 
     consumer the opportunity to choose any car powered by 
     anything but gasoline.
       Thanks for your time.
     Jeff.
                                  ____

       I applaud your efforts to communicate with Idahoans in an 
     effort to gain an understanding of what we see on a daily 
     basis. Perhaps there are some politicians that still want to 
     feel the pulse of those who elect them. I am not an Idaho 
     resident, but spent most of my 30 years growing up and living 
     in the state. I now reside in Washington and more 
     specifically in the northern Puget Sound system.
       When the increase in fuel prices became more than I could 
     justify I was faced with a decision to use our mass transit 
     system. I could not be more pleased with the level of service 
     offered. In comparison, many local areas in Southern Idaho do 
     not have a public transportation system that carries a 
     similar weight. With the increase in traffic in the treasure 
     valley one would think that a mass transit system would be a 
     logical solution. It benefits both economically and 
     environmentally make it a decision I believe is a must. What 
     future planning is in the works to create a suitable mass 
     transit system that would be utilized if any? I encourage the 
     use of a committee to explore more efforts for carpooling, 
     expanded bus systems, and light rail for a county connect 
     system. If you want to see a system that works, check out 
     Seattle, I believe we offer a very good solution for 
     transportation all around this region.
       I encourage your continuing goal of thinking outside the 
     box for solutions to meeting the ever increasing energy 
     crisis facing Idaho. This should be a task all politicians 
     should be working together on.
           Warm regards,
     Nate, Marysville WA.
                                  ____

       I do appreciate the opportunity to ``sound off'' on the 
     energy issue. I am of the belief that Congress has been 
     delinquent in its responsibility to the United States 
     citizens. I agree that we need to work hard on sources of 
     energy that are less harmful to our environment; however, in 
     the short run, we need to provide for our needs.
       I am not aware of any solution that will provide immediate 
     relief to the price of gasoline and diesel; however, it will 
     not get any better by talking about it for another 5 years. 
     If we had faced the problem 10 years ago, we would not have 
     the problem today.
       We need to drill now and we need to do it everywhere there 
     are known deposits of oil. We need to be good stewards of the 
     land in the process (we do know how to do that) but we need 
     to provide for our own domestic needs.
       Oil is a commodity, and like all commodities, the price 
     will fall as the supply increases. Whether it is Alaska, off 
     shore or the Rocky Mountain Shale oil, I believe we need to 
     pursue the development of these deposits, and the 
     construction of sufficient pipelines and refineries to 
     deliver the products to our citizens.
       Thank you again for your request for input. I look forward 
     to seeing the Senate and House take positive long term steps 
     for the ``every day'' citizens of our nation.
     Pete, Ontario, Oregon.
                                  ____

       Not too long ago (2\1/2\ years), I remember buying gasoline 
     for less than $2 a gallon. I drive a Honda Civic and also 
     have a Dodge Dakota that I use during the winter months when 
     four-wheel drive is needed to get up and down my mountain 
     road. I put the most miles on my Honda by far.
       Buying gasoline at $4 a gallon has now become a major 
     monthly expense, requiring me to cut back spending in other 
     areas such as

[[Page S2556]]

     eating out, vacations, purchasing household goods and home 
     improvements. While it is easy to blame the oil companies, I 
     do not feel that is fair. I believe a combination of 
     environmentalists, the media and [the] global warming myth 
     are more to blame. 31,000 scientists have gone on the record 
     to debunk the global warming myth yet it is still very much 
     alive in the media and being crammed into grade school 
     children's minds. The EPA has forced oil companies to produce 
     something like 19 different grades of unleaded gas. This is 
     ludicrous.
       There is no significant manmade global warming. There has 
     not been any in the past, there is none now and there is no 
     reason to fear any in the future. The climate of Earth is 
     changing. It has always changed. But mankind's activities 
     have not overwhelmed or significantly modified the natural 
     forces. I believe there is a direct connection between global 
     warming and four dollar a gallon gas. Ethanol is not the 
     answer--it is just screwing up our food supply chain.
     Anthony, Sandpoint.
                                  ____

       Energy costs have resulted in our doing without or not 
     going to some of the places we use to frequent. My wife and I 
     are on Social Security and therefore have a set income. We 
     are just not able to buy food and buy fuel for our vehicles. 
     We are hoping Congress will do the common sense thing and 
     ``drill here, drill now and pay less''. They simply must stop 
     catering to the environmentalists and do what is right for 
     America. As a senior member of the United States Senate, we 
     are asking you to not only do the things you say you are 
     going to do for the people of Idaho but be a leader and get 
     the Senate back to Conservatism.
     Jerry and Teddi, Homedale.
                                  ____

       I was born and raised in Idaho and I live here still. It is 
     amazing how this state has changed in just the last 10 years.
       The cost of fuel is insane. Raising the prices is not going 
     to replenish the world's natural resources. We need to 
     utilize the wind that blows nearly constantly through our 
     state, we need to open more ethanol plants in Idaho and ship 
     that fuel within Idaho. We need to give tax breaks to people 
     who add solar power to their homes/businesses. All government 
     buildings need to be solar powered.
       The only way people are going to slow the destruction of 
     our planet is by changing to using hydro power, wind power, 
     solar power.
       My family has resorted to sharing hot water to bathe and 
     not using the air conditioning unless absolutely necessary. 
     We have begun to ride bicycles to the grocery store to pick 
     up milk and bread because the fuel is too precious for a 
     small trip for the ever-necessary milk.
       Idaho needs more 5 lane roads to get across the Treasure 
     Valley. Idaho needs better public transit. Idaho needs a 
     passenger train with stops from Caldwell, to Nampa, Kuna, 
     Star, Eagle, Meridian, Boise * * * and numerous stops in each 
     of those towns. Imagine with me for a moment * * * a train 
     system with branches and stops criss-crossing the Treasure 
     Valley, and then public buses with routes that cover the 
     areas that the train cannot go. You, Senator, could take the 
     train to a bus stop and catch a bus to the Statehouse! Just 
     think about the jobs that the buses would create, and the 
     trains * * * the traffic would be lighter on the interstate.
       Treasure Valley also needs a belt route that take big 
     trucks out of the way. A route that starts south of Eiseman 
     Rd and travels west but stays south of Kuna and then heads 
     north to reconnect with I84 west of Caldwell. That would make 
     I84 through Ada and Canyon county safer to travel and again 
     reducing tons of congestion and traffic.
       These are dreams that only you and your fellow elected 
     officials can make a reality! We voted for you so that you 
     will hear the voice of the people and do what we ask. You are 
     there working for the people that voted for you. Make a 
     difference. Make Idaho a self-sufficient, self-reliant state.
     S.L.
                                  ____

       I am an independent small business owner. Since my profit 
     margins are tiny the high price of gas and diesel are causing 
     me to consider closing my business.
       Drill here, drill now, build refineries now. Build nuclear 
     power plants now.
     Val, Council.
                                  ____

       I think it is about time that Americans became aware of 
     their energy usage and excessive waste of a limited resource. 
     We should have been paying high fuel prices for many years 
     with a tax being used for research and support of alternative 
     technologies. Enhanced domestic production and expanded 
     refinery capacity is not the answer to a long term problem.
     Bill, Hailey.
                                  ____

       Please do not vote in favor of lifting the offshore 
     drilling ban nor in favor of drilling in any wildlife refuge. 
     Supply is not the problem in this price run-up. New drilling 
     will only benefit those in a position to profit from the 
     further exclusive use of petroleum, not the average consumer.
       We cannot undevelop wildlife areas, and it is impossible to 
     unspill oil. I grew up on the California coast, where 
     offshore drilling was underway. Certain beaches were 
     continually contaminated. We had to use, ironically, gasoline 
     to get the oil off our feet at the end of the day.
       Again, please do not vote in favor of further drilling. 
     Please do encourage development of alternatives to petroleum. 
     Thank you.
     Nancy, Boise.
                                  ____

       What I cannot understand is why our government is so blind 
     to how the price of fuel is affecting all of America. And 
     still the big oil companies are making huge profits, actually 
     obscene profits. I know their stockholders want to make a 
     profit--but at the expense of the entire economy?
       Can you name one thing that you get that does not come by 
     truck? The airlines are dropping like flies. The average 
     driver can hardly afford to drive to work and essential 
     places, let alone extra driving. Cannot you see how this is a 
     huge hurt to the American family?
     Kathie, Melba.

                          ____________________