[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 57 (Monday, April 20, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4438-S4439]
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 get my health care and medications at the V.A. hospital 
     in Boise, Idaho. That requires a four hour drive of over 170 
     miles, each way. This year I had to cancel my lab 
     appointments and medication renewal exam because it would 
     have cost me over $250 to make the trip. My only alternative 
     was to drive to the newly opened V.A. clinic in Lewiston, 
     Idaho an 80-mile trip each way. I was then told that I would 
     have to wait an unknown period of time ``to get on a waiting 
     list''. This trip cost me over 90 plus dollars and gas/diesel 
     is still climbing. If we allow new oil exploration in ANWR 
     and off of our coast, what guarantees are we going to get 
     that this ``oil'' will be used for the benefit of Americans. 
     As I understand it now most of the oil from Alaska is shipped 
     to Japan, while some is used for U.S. consumption. This is a 
     national resource on national land and appropriate royalties 
     should be dedicated to make gas and diesel affordable for all 
     Americans. Thank you for your time and consideration.
     Dwight, White Bird.
                                  ____

       I'm 72 yrs of age, my wife is 70. We have worked hard all 
     our lives, have been responsible, caring citizens. I am a 
     vet, have served in various leadership positions in different 
     organizations, involvement in Boy Scouts and other youth 
     programs, as a responsible citizen over the years we have 
     voted at all elections to exercise our civic responsibility. 
     We are retired, live on a fixed income, with

[[Page S4439]]

     a modest retirement future. In retirement, one has to adjust 
     your ``wants'' to what is really needed. When I retired, how 
     could I have anticipated $4.00+ a gallon for gas? Somehow, I 
     felt my civic input over the years had placed the correct 
     people in government to oversee the changing variables in 
     life and make the proper adjustments needed to hold sure and 
     steady on course!
       Instead now we have intense partisanship, people voting for 
     the good of the ``party'' instead of what is best for the 
     country, self-interest and self aggrandizement with very 
     little being accomplished--all upon the backs of the 
     ``people'' who have put them in office. Gas is now a 
     political football; drill here and now, against those who say 
     whatever we can find here is not enough `` a liberal party 
     line,'' if all this is our future, I am sure glad I am 72 and 
     have only a few years to see the further denigration of our 
     political system and our way of life. My biggest regret is 
     the mess my generation is leaving to our children and 
     grandchildren.
     Lloyd and Carol.
                                  ____

       You are asking Idahoans to write about gas prices? [Does 
     that mean that you] do not know? I think [questions like that 
     indicate that those in Congress may be out of touch with 
     reality.]
       [One of] your colleagues [suggested that] Americans to use 
     alternative routes of transportation and that it is a good 
     thing that gas prices force people to take the bus, ride 
     Bikes, or walk to their destination because it helps reduce 
     global warming. [But that suggestion fails to recognize 
     reality]. I am a driver for a living. I deliver products 
     right here in Boise. I have to drive I have no choice. I am 
     also a salesman, and a night supervisor. I do not have the 
     option of riding the bus! I cannot walk my deliveries or ride 
     my bike with my products. I find it absolutely insulting [to 
     have this lack of comprehension of real life displayed by our 
     political leaders].
       I have three jobs! Three jobs, and I am still having 
     problems fueling up! I have had to open credit card accounts 
     for the first time in my life! And my debt is still going up.
       You would think with three jobs and three paychecks for one 
     person, I would be doing well? I am not married, no kids! I 
     would be starving with fuel prices if I had a family! I am 
     just barely paying my bills on time as they are, to about 
     $1500 a month, not including gas prices!
       Starting in 2005 till 2007 I did very well financially; I 
     was saving up and putting money away in my savings account. I 
     loved myself for putting money away. This month in June I had 
     to take one-fourth of my life savings out of the bank to pay 
     bills, including gas because the price skyrocketed from $3 to 
     $4 a gallon in one month!
       This is outrageous! I am [extremely angry at the political 
     leaders who have failed to address this problem. And Congress 
     carries most of the blame.] Congress has done this because 
     [environmentalists have protected caribou in ANWR where we 
     have lots of oil. I am dismayed that Congress displays more 
     concern for the] caribou than they do for the economy! My 
     jobs? My gas prices? My bills? My lifestyle? [Congress should 
     be concerned more about the people it represents, not the 
     animals.]
       You will not allow drilling off shore? Well, did you know 
     that China is drilling for oil off the coast of Florida? But 
     we cannot? Why? This is outrageous!
       Do not listen to those radical environmentalists. They were 
     wrong about the second Ice Age in the 70s. When I was kid in 
     school in the 1980s, my teachers told me by the year 1999 New 
     York would be underwater and Los Angeles would be a bunch of 
     Islands. It has not happened. Of course, the Earth's 
     temperature changes and jumps over time. The Earth's climate 
     changes all the time; it has been since the Earth cooled and 
     formed. The Earth's temperature does not stay the same all 
     the time. There are so many scientists and people who 
     disagree with [climate change theories].
     Unsigned.
                                  ____

       The area of Terreton, Mud Lake, Monteview, and Hamer has no 
     grocery store in any of the areas. We live approximately 45 
     miles from Idaho Falls, or Rexburg, whichever way we go. 
     Either of these towns contains our nearest grocery store. 
     Therefore, we have to drive 90 miles to get to a grocery 
     store and home. Some people live as far as 19 miles farther 
     north in Monteview, so for them it is over a 125-mile trip to 
     a grocery store and home. I am sure that none of our Senators 
     or Congressmen can even fathom something like this. We do 
     have an implement dealer and a great hardware store in our 
     area but still, for some of the people it is a 20 mile drive 
     to and from this store from the outskirts of Monteview and 
     Hamer.
       We try to make our trips count when we grocery shop, but 
     milk and fresh produce does not last as long as other items. 
     So sometimes it becomes a 125 mile trip for just a few 
     groceries. This makes groceries extra expensive when the trip 
     itself costs $20 plus just in gas costs. They have to 
     realize, not everyone is in walking distance of all products 
     and services.
       Doctors, hospitals, clothing stores, entertainment, etc., 
     are all the same distance. We either stay home or we drive 
     125 miles for about anything we need. The answer for us is 
     not ``just drive less''. We have no choice, and this involves 
     a lot of people.
     Kent and Shelma, Terreton.
                                  ____

       I want to first of all thank you for all of your efforts to 
     help us achieve energy independence. For the one priority of 
     Congress to act upon for our country's energy policy, we need 
     domestic oil, both drilling and more refining. This would 
     stabilize both out economy, and national security, because it 
     would make it so that we are not beholden to the whims of 
     foreign governments, but you already know that, I just wish 
     that some other members of Congress could understand that 
     also.
       As far as current fuel cost having an impact on my 
     situation, let me share a few details with you. I own a small 
     window cleaning business, that currently services from Idaho 
     Falls up to Ashton and the Driggs area. We have been planning 
     to expand our service area to include down to Pocatello and 
     up to Island Park this year. But, because of fuel cost, we 
     have had to put off expanding up to Island Park for now. This 
     delay has not only affected me, but I have one other person 
     working for me, and it has also affected him because he gets 
     paid a percentage of any work done. We have been able to do 
     some expanding into the Pocatello area, but it has not gone 
     as fast as we had planned because of the fuel cost.
     Scot, Teton.
                                  ____

       I just heard on the news that a couple of states are 
     charging a surcharge to speeding tickets. This extra fee 
     penalizes those who are speeding and using more fuel, 
     endangering the lives of their fellow citizens. The money is 
     used to augment the police departments who must pay more for 
     fuel because of higher prices. These higher prices are 
     causing problems with the budgets of the police departments. 
     It is only fair that those who speed should pay to augment 
     the police departments gasoline bill. Please use your 
     influence to encourage the states to add this surcharge to 
     their speeding tickets and designate the money to the police 
     departments gasoline bills.
       We must do something about the high cost of gasoline. It 
     will ruin our country and put millions out of work, as it has 
     done already. The answer is not more supply the answer is to 
     stop the greed of the American oil companies. Its just that 
     simple. It is not right, it is criminal for the oil companies 
     to make billions in profits while bankrupting the citizens of 
     the USA.
       Your web site says the average American will spend more 
     than $50 per month on gasoline than last year. [But] we are 
     spending more then $50 more per tankful than we did last 
     year! I bought a Subaru that gets 30 MPH on the highway, and 
     it cost over $50 to fill the tank! The same amount I spend on 
     my 350 V8 Chevrolet pick-up a year ago and it holds 30 
     gallons. I do not even drive my truck anymore.
     Cynthia.

                          ____________________