[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 60 (Thursday, April 23, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4664-S4666]
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:

       It is time to wake up, America. All it would take [for the 
     price to drop] is for Congress to allow the oil companies to 
     drill for oil anywhere in this country and the crude oil 
     price would drop $30 to $50 a barrel. I, for one, am tired of 
     Congress blaming business or the President for the problems 
     of this country. Congress holds the key and they sit back and 
     run up the government deficits until the value of our dollar 
     is falling like a rock, which, in turn, is driving up the 
     price of crude oil.
       It was not that long ago that the Congress of the 1990s 
     showed fiscal responsibility. But, this Congress shows that 
     it is unwilling to try to solve any of the nation's problems. 
     The deficit is snowballing into a problem that cannot be 
     ignored any longer it is having an effect on all of our daily 
     lives.
       There has been many articles recently about the amount of 
     oil that this country has is not enough to solve this 
     countries demands for oil, but it sure would go a long way 
     towards balancing trade deficits and have a huge effect on 
     the economy. If Congress shows a willingness to do something 
     about this problem, the commodities markets reaction would be 
     swift; no action, be prepared to keep paying at the pump!
       It is time to write our Senators and Representatives and 
     tell them it is long overdue that they do something about 
     utilizing our nation's oil resources, and with a percentage 
     of the revenue from it to build renewable energy plants like 
     solar and wind generation projects. The politicians keep 
     saying that they are all for looking out for the poor and the 
     working class in this country but [that is not happening.] 
     There is some huge possibilities if Congress acts, if not we 
     are starting to see what the future looks like.
     Kyle, Genesee.
                                  ____

       These high gas prices are making it more and more difficult 
     for my family to just get to town for the basic essentials. 
     We live on top of a mountain in Idaho, and it takes us 25 
     minutes just to drive down in town where we do our grocery 
     shopping, banking, medical care and prescription pick-up as 
     well as postal service, and any hardware or building supplies 
     we might need as we are building a large house. Due to the 
     increasing gas prices, we have had to condense our trips down 
     to once a week, so we are not near as frequently patronizing 
     the local businesses like we used to. I would plead with 
     Congress to please increase our domestic oil supply as this 
     is an extreme hardship on thousands and thousands of Idaho 
     residents as well as the local businesses.
     Darlene, Kamiah.
                                  ____

       Let me begin by saying that I sincerely appreciate your 
     decision to consult your constituents about the energy issue. 
     Though the electorate may be vastly uninformed, it is 
     nevertheless every citizen's duty to be active and politics, 
     and you are encouraging this laudable behavior. You deserve 
     to be commended.
       Yet now I fear I must turn from a tone of praise to one of 
     criticism because you requested personal--and thus 
     emotionally-charged--anecdotes. Indeed you asked for policy 
     opinions, too, but from your email, those seemed of secondary 
     importance. Anecdotes and emotions have no rightful place in 
     the policy-making process, no matter how many you receive and 
     how depressing they are. The responses you receive will

[[Page S4665]]

     be surely come primarily from the constituents hit hardest by 
     the high prices, yielding a very skewed measurement of public 
     opinion.
       The hysteria regarding the oil ``crisis'' of the day 
     invariably clouds our judgment. It leads to proposals that 
     lack all substance and justification such as the gas tax 
     holiday. These ideas are motivated chiefly by personal 
     electoral concerns rather than a sincere desire to help 
     citizens. Using a conservative estimate of 20 mpg for my 
     compact car, I would have to drive 725 miles a week this 
     summer just to save $100. This is the kind of relief the 
     American people need, really? Oh and, by the way, it would 
     cost an estimated $9 billion when our nation is the largest 
     debtor in the world. (I am not accusing you of supporting 
     this proposal, but it illustrates my point.)
       Instead let us look at a major cause of this problem; it is 
     not speculators or Al-Qaeda. Over the period from 2000 when 
     national prices were at approximately $1.50 per gallon till 
     the year 2007 when prices were at approximately $2.75 per 
     gallon, inflation is estimated at 17 to 40 percent. (This 
     according to http://www.measuringworth.com.) Conservative 
     numbers indicate $1.50 in 2000 is worth $1.80 in 2007, while 
     aggressive estimates would value that same $1.50 at $2.11 in 
     2007. And as the average gas price in 2007 was at $2.75, 
     simple arithmetic shows that inflation accounts for at least 
     a quarter of the price increase and possibly as much as half 
     of the increase.
       Yet in the public arena, most still blame the increase on 
     speculators or price-gouging oil companies or OPEC. Inflation 
     is seldom mentioned even though we have just seen how 
     integral a role it has played. This problem needs to be 
     addressed. Our inflation in turn is caused chiefly by our 
     growing national debt and the expensive foreign policy that 
     it finances. I submit that entitlement spending is 
     problematic too, but our military spending is much more 
     easily curtailed because public opinion is not as deeply 
     entrenched in support of it.
       Although I personally believe we should bring the troops 
     home from Iraq and Afghanistan, I know you disagree, and I 
     realize that I will be unable to sway you on this issue. 
     However, military spending can still be readily cut back in 
     other areas. I think our global military presence is a great 
     place to start. As of 2005, America held 737 foreign military 
     bases. The simple question is why. Why do we need a military 
     presence in Japan or Germany? This cannot be defended as 
     merely part of the War on Terror, and yet these bases and 
     others like them are costing the American taxpayer billions 
     of dollars every year. This is an encroachment on the 
     national sovereignty of other countries, but, more 
     importantly, it is an exorbitant waste. If there is a 
     legitimate reason for our costly global military presence, 
     please inform me. But if not, you must agree that the 
     financial benefit of shutting down these bases is too great 
     to ignore. (Check out Nemesis by Chalmers Johnson for more 
     information on this topic.)
       I sincerely thank you for soliciting the opinions of your 
     constituents. As you may have assumed by now, I have not been 
     hard hit by high energy prices. I am going to be a college 
     student in the fall, and I prefer riding my bike to driving 
     my car. I hope that you acknowledge the role of inflation in 
     today's energy crisis, and I urge you to look at the 
     rationale for our global military deployment. Getting our 
     fiscal house back in order will have a real and palpable 
     benefit for the American people, and solutions like scaling 
     back the military are the first step.
     Eddie, Meridian.
                                  ____

       I work for a small semi-trailer manufacturer here in Boise. 
     Our orders for new trailers have fallen off considerably. 
     Existing orders are now being canceled at an alarming rate. 
     Every Monday morning there is a number of trailers parked in 
     front of our building from owner operators calling it quits. 
     I ask all of my customers why and they all say the diesel 
     fuel prices are the reason.
       Today, in our weekly sales meeting, the owner told us we 
     needed to get some orders on the schedule or the company will 
     be laying off 100 people. We have already reduced our 
     workforce by 50 since March. He went on to say that if it 
     continues he will have to send 50 more home by the end of 
     July. Like I said above, we are a small company, we had 400 
     employees total at the first of 2008. By the end of July, we 
     could cut our work force by 50 percent. I have heard that 
     since January 1st the trucking industry has lost around 800 
     trucks due to fuel prices. This is unacceptable and very 
     unreasonable and our government just stands by and lets it 
     happen.
     Gary, Boise.
                                  ____

       We need relief fast. These fuel and food costs are killing 
     our home budget. The baby boomers have having to continue to 
     work to pay for fuel. We are very concerned and we vote, so 
     please help.
     Joe and Cheri.
                                  ____

       The oil-producing countries recent pursuit of nuclear 
     power--and their interest in investing in British nuclear 
     power is an interesting trend, I think.
     Claudia.
                                  ____

       Like most Americans, the high cost of gas has limited my 
     trips to visit family and conduct personal business--a 
     necessity in rural Idaho.
       The only real solution to our energy problem is to wean 
     this country off oil. Increased domestic oil production would 
     only be putting a band-aid on a gaping hole. It would not 
     solve our energy needs and we would still be buying oil from 
     abroad. It is also a finite resource so in a few years time 
     whatever drop in the bucket ANWR might provide (no one knows 
     how much oil resides there), will eventually be gone. The 
     only real solution is investment in alternative energy. 
     Government-provided grants and subsidies to innovative 
     entrepreneurs would eventually solve our problems and sever 
     the dependence on Venezuela and the Middle East once and for 
     all.
       At the very least, this country can ``tighten its belt'' 
     with regard to conservation. As we all know, America uses 
     more energy per capita than any other country. I have 
     traveled abroad extensively and have thoroughly enjoyed the 
     availability of public transportation--most of which is 
     subsidized by the government and small hot water heaters.
       Thank you for considering my thoughts.
     Courtney, Kamiah.
                                  ____

       Even though I have a secure job at the INL I do not 
     consider myself to be rich I have seen many problems brought 
     on by the energy/housing/banking fiascoes. I just saw a news 
     article where people who have minimum wage jobs are having to 
     quit because they cannot afford to drive to work!! Bread has 
     doubled in price due to the new emphasis of the 
     administration placed on ethonal production. My 401K plan has 
     lost over $50,000 since January 1, 2008.
       I challenge you to try to live as a `normal' American. I 
     have a $1,100 mortgage, a $500 payment for my daughter's 
     college education, $250 in car insurance (for myself, my wife 
     and two daughters), $300 for food (that is just for my wife 
     and myself) and about $300 for gas. Why do not you challenge 
     your fellow Congressman to this little test: Live like this 
     for a month, no congressional [perks].
       Assume you bring home $3,000/month:
       $1,000 mortgage or rent
       $500 college
       $200 medical
       $300 gas
       $300 food
       $250 car insurance
       $400 credit card
       Total: $2,950.00
       In my exaggerated case, that does not leave much for any 
     car repairs (did I mention your car is 10 years old and 
     because of all the money worries, it has lost 50 percent of 
     its value since Jan!)--So a new hybrid car is totally out of 
     the question. Also, I forgot to tell you that you worked in 
     construction and have to have a big truck (3/4 ton) to haul 
     your tools and supplies around--no sissy two-seater hybrid 
     for this job! Now that you see what a family in Idaho is 
     probably facing.
       Big oil wants the offshore oil leases opened made 
     available. . . . Gee, from what I saw on C-SPAN the other 
     night, big oil is buying and holding leases, but not 
     drilling. This has been going on since I believe the speaker 
     said 1999 or so. Is not that kinda like artificially 
     controlling the supply? They want the leases, they have to 
     work or forfeit them, no refund. We will not even mention the 
     $56+ billion profit (Websters definition: Income minus 
     expenses). And then they have the nerve to say they need the 
     tax handouts because it is ``good for the economy'' and they 
     need it to protect the environment. We just do not understand 
     them! In a recent interview shown on TV, none of the big oil 
     CEOs would support environmental advertisements.
       The banks are making money investing in oil, etc. Then they 
     charge 11->30 percent for credit cards. Not every American is 
     to blame for the housing/banking bust! I just looked up my 
     credit union rates for 0-$999.00, they are paying 0.50 
     percent APY.
       It is about time to put [partisan and parochial interests 
     aside] and do what is right for the country. It does not 
     matter if it is the idea of a Republican, Democrat, or 
     Independent, if it is the right thing to do, support it!
       After all of the ranting above, believe me that I still 
     love and support America and what its real values are. But I 
     do [believe that far too many people in power have 
     collectively trashed America and are not being forced to fix 
     it.]
     Jerry.
                                  ____

       My husband and I have been retired for almost four years. 
     We make $2,200 a month. We have a house payment of $1,000 a 
     month. When we retired, we were making plenty to keep us. 
     Since we have retired, everything has gone up. The nearest 
     grocery store (very small corner market) is 15 miles away. We 
     have to drive 100 miles round trip to do any kind of 
     shopping, doctors, etc. Our home is very rural, so when we 
     built it 28 years ago it would have cost us $10,000 to run a 
     natural gas line, so we opted for propane, which has risen to 
     $3.00 a gallon. We have a wood stove to help, but the nearest 
     wood to cut is 70 miles one way. My husband has bone on bone 
     knees, and is in a lot of pain, so getting wood is going to 
     get harder and harder. When we retired we figured on being 
     able to draw Social Security at 62\1/2\. Now they have 
     changed it to 66. My husband worked for 38 years and was able 
     to retire while he is still young. He will be 60 in three 
     days. Yes, we are able to live, but there is nothing extra. 
     At least we are doing better than my parents making $1,200 a 
     month and having to decide between eating, staying warm, and 
     being able to buy their prescription drugs, (that before the

[[Page S4666]]

     Medicare Part D program were free). We need to take care of 
     our own. Use our own oil, feed our own people, keep the 
     illegal aliens out because they are using more of our 
     governments money than we are. I have my doubts you will ever 
     read this, but it is worth a try.
     Trish.
                                  ____

       I work for the federal government, but had to make a 
     difficult choice last week. I had to decide on buying enough 
     gasoline to get to work for the next two weeks or providing 
     additional food for my family. I commute daily from 20 miles 
     one way to work and do not have an option to move at this 
     time. The need for gasoline won over the additional food. 
     Please support Senator Crapo and Congressman Simpson as they 
     work to provide real solutions to our increased costs for 
     energy instead of merely blaming the current administration 
     and promising to raise taxes as the only solutions.
     Tom, Ririe.
                                  ____

       I have just read through your website and have found only 
     responses that support your conclusions. Are you afraid to 
     post any dissent on the subject? Yes, gas prices are at a 
     record high and yes, many people are seeing significant new 
     bills and a reduction in their spendable income. Some, 
     certainly, are no longer able to stay out of debt. 
     Nonetheless, all of the solutions that you are proposing will 
     do little to impact anyone's pocketbook or bottom line. 
     Offshore drilling, whether it be in Florida or Alaska, will 
     not ease the current situation. No new oil will flow out of 
     those areas for years. If you allow such exploration, who do 
     you think will pay for the new equipment and technology 
     required to access such oil? I know who--either the consumers 
     or the taxpayers, but probably, both.
       More importantly, why are many Americans struggling to pay 
     the increased cost of gas? How many Prius drivers are 
     complaining? How many times did the Senate vote down 
     legislation to force automakers to manufacture more fuel 
     efficient vehicles?
       On your website, you state, ``It is why I support 
     legislation to fully utilize proven American oil and natural 
     gas reserves in a way that preserves the environment for 
     future generations.'' How are you going to fully utilize 
     reserves and preserve the environment? Has there ever been an 
     oil installation that preserves, or benefits the environment?
       I am extremely happy that you support renewable energies. 
     Idaho certainly has a great deal of renewable potential. We 
     have great solar, wind, and water resources. Are you aware 
     that Idaho, as a state, offers some of the most paltry 
     incentives in the entire country? As a state, we do not even 
     have a net-metering law.
       Renewable energies are currently poised to be rapidly 
     deployed, far faster than the decades required to extract the 
     limited quantities of oil out of ANWR.
       Before we vote to open vast areas to development, let us 
     look forward to the future to determine if this is a prudent 
     thing to do. At the very least, let us determine if it will 
     even solve the issue at hand.
     Jake, Driggs.
                                  ____

       Please check out this web site. We would love to have your 
     signature. http://www.drillforamericanoil.com.
 Bob.
                                  ____

       I worked on building the Alaska Pipeline from 1972 to 1986 
     and have been back several times. I have been on every 
     National Geographic and all the magazines, so I have seen oil 
     as crude and the finished product. The refining is basically 
     the same as in 1973. The cost is low to refine to gas stage. 
     What I am getting at is what Ted Stevens said to Leo Lucas 
     and I back in the 1980s when I lived next door to him on 
     Leo's ranch. He said, ``There can be no crooked oilmen 
     without crooked Senators and Congressmen. He went on to 
     predict this ``crunch'' we are having as something that OPEC 
     has always said would happen.
       Maybe it is time to take it away from the oil people. We 
     have more oil in Alaska than Saudi Arabia, same with North 
     Dakota, Pennsylvania, and nobody has any idea how much is in 
     Utah. But I would never go for drilling in ANWR.
       That is something you cannot image. The beauty is stunning, 
     although they say the impact would be like a sheet of plywood 
     in the middle of a football field. I believe them to be 
     liars. They have the best drillers in the world in Alaska. I 
     have worked with all but a few of them. They can drill from 
     elsewhere and get all the oil without going there, even if it 
     is like the sheet of plywood. It will not stay that way. They 
     are pigs and will ruin all they touch. Anyway, who would want 
     a sheet of plywood in the middle of their football field?
       For all they would get offshore would be dwarfed by it, 
     anyway. Let us use our resources and tell OPEC that grain is 
     $139 a bushel. Leave them alone. They hate us. If someone 
     wanted me to stay away from them there is no way they would 
     ever have to say it twice.
     Oliver, Salmon.

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