[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 16524-16526]
[From the U.S. 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 over 1,000, are heartbreaking 
and touching. To respect their efforts, I am submitting every e-mail 
sent to me through [email protected] 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 cost of gasoline has made my bi-weekly trip to my 
     folks' home 100 miles away a lot costlier. My dad has been in 
     a physical rehab/residential center since his back surgery in 
     January. My mom has had to learn how to drive and handle 
     finances again after years of my dad doing it. My mom drives 
     almost daily the 35 miles round trip to visit my Dad. 
     Thankfully, I purchased a Toyota Prius last September and my 
     mom is buying a Toyota Corolla for the fabulous gas mileage 
     each of them get.
       I think the number 1 priority for Congress to be looking at 
     was not one of your choices. The oil speculation on the 
     commodities market has pushed the price far more than the 
     original selling price for a barrel of oil. Take away the 
     speculation additives and we would probably see $3 a gallon 
     for gas. The next option is conservation. Our vehicle (car, 
     truck, etc.) manufacturers need to look up and see what is 
     happening. The emissions and gas mileage laws that are to 
     take effect in approximate 20 years are here today and if 
     they want to stay in business they will have to meet the 
     growing desire for more fuel efficiency and greater mileage 
     of the Japanese. Why are we always too far behind when we are 
     supposed to be the innovators? Looking into alternate fuels, 
     such as hydro would be another good start. Look into these 
     other types of fuel where we are not producing as much 
     harmful waste as we are trying to get rid of our dependence 
     on oil.
       Please take oil out of the commodities market, for the 
     county's benefit.
     Rhosan.
                                  ____

       My husband got a whopping 3 percent raise this year. I sure 
     wish I could put a 3 percent cap on the increase in my 
     expenses. As many other Idahoans, we live in the country. He 
     carpools to town (with 2 other guys), where he gets on a 
     large van carpool. The carpool rates just keep going up as 
     the gas keeps going up, soon all of his raise will be in the 
     gas tank and gone. We no longer have any leftover for 
     recreation, which only increases the tension. Why live in 
     Idaho if you cannot afford the gas to go fishing, hiking, 
     scouting, hunting, golfing, and all the other things we love 
     to do?

                                                   Debby, Preston.

[[Page 16525]]

     
                                  ____
       Why did you chicken out and sell us out to the gas 
     companies? Instead of grilling the presidents of the gas 
     companies who said they could make a profit even if gas WAS 
     HALF THE PRICE they were selling it at, you did nothing!!! No 
     legislation was passed to control the gas prices consumers 
     pay. This is an old shell game that legislators and gas men 
     have been playing for years. [Now is the time for action!]
     Steven.
                                  ____

       I would like to thank you for the e-mail you send out about 
     energy cost increases. It has affected my family because that 
     extra $200 a month I would have been spending on eating out, 
     backpacking, or just purchasing items for the family now 
     means I stay at home. You know this is a growing a vibrant 
     country and I proposed we do all the things you said. Drill 
     offshore, in the continental U.S. and Alaska. We should 
     pursue nuclear power and drill for natural gas as well, 
     pursue coal gasification, synthetic oil through coal. We 
     should not be beholden to environmental extremists. Drill, 
     Drill, Drill
     Matt, Kuna.
                                  ____

       First, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to be 
     able to speak out about what I consider a crisis in our 
     country. My wife is an R.N. at Kootenai Medical Center and 
     the high gas prices have really hurt our budget. I am 
     disabled and have to be taken for doctor visits as well as 
     many trips for medications. My mother is 78 years old and 
     lives in Dalton whereas we live in Post Falls.
       We have to take her to her doctor and shopping, etc. She 
     lives on a fixed income and cannot afford to drive nor can 
     she afford the high energy bills that most low income 
     families have to pay. For those people it is either pay for 
     gas and take the money from food they need or even 
     medications they cannot afford due to these unreasonable 
     costs. It is ridiculous to expect people who, like my sister, 
     get $35.00 a month in food stamps and barely enough to live 
     off to pay these prices. I, for one, do not like to rely on 
     imported oil to get from one place to another. We need our 
     government to find a better way to provide us citizens with 
     fair and reasonable prices for gas and other energy such as 
     natural gas and electricity. There has to be a way not to 
     rely on others for our needs and succumb to their ridiculous 
     prices without destroying our public lands. I feel, for 
     starters, vouchers should be given to the folks who need the 
     help the most and possibly for those who provide a service to 
     their community such as health professionals, police, etc. We 
     need to help each other but with my family, my wife and I 
     foot the bill for family due to their inability to afford 
     even the small things that are needed for everyday living.
       Thank you for your time.
           God Bless,
     Duwayne.
                                  ____

       Your letter indicates your priorities are all screwed up. 
     Your statements that ``. . . I support legislation to fully 
     utilize proven American oil and natural gas reserves in a way 
     that preserves the environment . . . enhanced domestic 
     production, expanded refinery capacity, renewable and 
     alternative energy sources, nuclear power, conservation . . 
     .'' are just plain silly.
       Unless you and everyone else takes the responsibility of 
     cleaning up and protecting our environment before worrying 
     about the cost of gasoline, Mother Earth will certainly 
     become uninhabitable about the time of Armageddon, which some 
     people say is supposed to happen in this century.
       We need real leadership from servants like you.
       The environment is the number one issue. Consider:
       Carbon fuels:
       The use of carbon fuels must be drastically reduced. This 
     cannot be done by:
       Increasing exploration for and production of fossil fuels.
       Allowing excess profits for the oil industries.
       Manufacturing ethanol, and other hair-brained boondoggles.
       Failing to set high mileage standards for motor vehicles.
       Allowing patent protections to become barriers to energy 
     efficiency.
       A ho-hum attitude toward developing renewable alternative 
     energy sources.
       A similar attitude about developing alternate forms of 
     transportation (mass transit).
       Allowing more urban sprawl.
       Making war. Manufacturing and fueling war machines uses 
     huge amounts of energy.
       Recreational toys--dirt bikes, auto racing, off-road 
     vehicles, speed boating, etc.
       Nuclear Energy:
       Absolutely not, unless and until the problem of the 
     disposal of nuclear garbage is fully resolved so that our 
     descendants for many generations to come will not have to 
     contend with our stupidity.
       These are sticky questions. Are you going to lead?
     Joseph, Sandpoint.
                                  ____

       Thank you for the opportunity to voice my opinion about the 
     high energy prices. The high gas prices have caused our 
     family to plan our trips better, combine trips, and limit use 
     of one of our vehicles which gets very poor gas mileage. 
     While these are not necessarily bad things, the amount of our 
     income which is spent on fuel continues to rise. I am also a 
     small business owner here in Twin Falls. My business requires 
     my employees and me to travel to various cities in the 
     southern Idaho area to perform computer and network 
     maintenance and support. Our business expenditures for fuel 
     will probably force us to have to raise our service rates.
       One of the biggest gripes that I have with our Congress is 
     the lack of will to do anything constructive about this 
     energy problem. Legislation is preventing the United States 
     from drilling for oil in our country. Many members of 
     Congress talk a lot about purchasing more fuel efficient cars 
     or using public transportation. While I would love to be 
     driving a fuel efficient hybrid auto, as the father of a 
     family of six, I cannot afford to purchase such a vehicle. I 
     also do not have the financial resources at my company to 
     purchase new autos, either. As you are aware, public 
     transportation in Idaho would not be a profitable enterprise. 
     Our cities are, for the most part, not densely populated 
     enough to justify mass transportation. Besides, I need a 
     vehicle for my job, so taking a bus or train to work would 
     not really be something I could do anyway.
       I am sure that you will receive many e-mails similar to 
     mine. I hope that you are able to make a difference in 
     solving this problem.
           Thanks,
     Scott, Twin Falls.
                                  ____

       You have fought hard for us here in Idaho and hope you can 
     do something about the escalating costs of energy. We do not 
     live in a state with subways, rail service and we have 
     limited bus service only in major cities. What is Congress 
     thinking? Please have them change their ways and let us tap 
     into our own reserves. Stop exporting to other countries and 
     help other fellow Americans.
       The average person in Idaho only makes $7 to $8 an hour and 
     has to travel over 45 minutes to get to work. Adding the 
     extra burden of gasoline, more and more will not be able to 
     go to work. [They will lose] their jobs and then sign up for 
     assistance. Does that make sense?
       Do something positive for this country.
     Pamela, Riggins.
                                  ____

       Thanks for this opportunity to give feedback. All of us do 
     not like paying $4 per gallon. The important thing is that 
     all Americans would be willing to make the sacrifice, just as 
     we did in WWII. We can car pool, change our habits, etc. The 
     difference is that in those days, Congress actually 
     represented the people. Americans would be willing to help 
     out with the energy problems if there was real leadership.
       When Americans see Congress refusing to give tax credits to 
     those of us who would love to install alternate energy or use 
     solar (as has been done big time in Germany) it leads to 
     massive frustration and then Americans get whiney and 
     complain. But if we had real leadership that said, ``Look, 
     times are tough, but we'll get through it together, and what 
     our country is going to invest in is . . . And we are going 
     to do it like this . . .,'' Americans would willingly pay 
     more at the pump. But right now it all seems so futile. The 
     public pays out big bucks, and Congress will not act to fix 
     the problem.
       Idaho doesn't even give tax credits for those of us who 
     would very willingly go solar. Or how about tax breaks for 
     citizens who promise to car pool to work or buy cars with 
     high fuel mileage?
       There is no real leadership, and I do not even expect this 
     note to help, to be honest. But, I guess hope blooms 
     eternally!
     Foster.
                                  ____

       My husband and I are both 78 years old . . . I am retired, 
     but my husband works part-time to help make ends meet. The 
     cost of electricity has gone up, the cost of water has gone 
     up, the cost of natural gas to heat our home has gone up, the 
     price of food has gone up, and the price of gasoline at the 
     pump is ridiculous.
       Why is China allowed to pump crude oil off our shores when 
     American cannot? It seems that there are too many times that 
     Congress has forgotten who they represent--the people, not 
     the lobbyists. What roles are the International Monetary Fund 
     and the World Bank playing in our price of gasoline? We have 
     all the natural resources we need right here in the U.S. but 
     Congress will not let us touch them. Why? It is time to look 
     out for America--that is what you are there to do.
       Will Rogers once said ``We could slow down the aging 
     process a great deal if it had to make its way through 
     Congress.''
       Stop bickering and get something done!!! Both parties!!!
     Dick and Betty, Boise.
                                  ____

       I live in an RV. I use space heaters in the winter because 
     electricity is cheaper than propane; that is changing. I do 
     not run either of my rooftop A/C units; I run a fan. I live 
     in Nampa and work variable hours in Boise; [public 
     transportation] will not work for me. When gasoline was $3.57 
     a gallon, it cost me $75 to $80 a week to drive my 1987 Dodge 
     conversion van [which I dearly loved]. I could not afford 
     this. I was forced to buy a 1991 Chevy Astro from my 
     neighbor; he is carrying the contract [the only way I could

[[Page 16526]]

     manage it]. I do not like this vehicle. It has body damage, 
     is impossible to camp in, and is quite unnattractive. Last 
     week, with fuel at $4.07 a gallon, it cost me $47 for one 
     week. It is quite an improvement, but quite a sacrifice. I 
     have long heard stories of highly fuel-efficient engines, 
     rights of which were bought up by The Big Three and the oil 
     conglomerates and put on the shelf, never to see production. 
     What is up with that? When I left Boeing and went into the 
     Navy in 1968, I had a 1961 Olds F-85 that got 26 miles per 
     gallon when fuel was cheap and plentiful. What happened? I 
     have no objection to properly safe-guarded nuclear power 
     sources. I fully believe in sustainable [solar, wind-farm, 
     etc.] resources. I do not care at all for the axe that the 
     Mid-East nations hold at our neck for energy sources. I do 
     not care at all for the oil conglomerates posting record 
     profits while I pay through the nose. We sure need to do 
     something.
     Edward, Nampa.
                                  ____

       You asked about my energy costs; well, this is my 
     situation. Back in 1990, I suffered a major heart attack. I 
     was 49 years old. The hospital bills wiped out any savings I 
     had, but all were paid off in full! I received my first 
     Social Security check in December 1990. In 1991, on a Social 
     Security check of $460 monthly, I was making space rent on my 
     trailer, as well as payment on a trailer, and had money left 
     over to get all my other bills paid off, plus put a small 
     amount ($10 or $15) in savings. Now, with a Social Security 
     check of $872 monthly, after paying space rent, I am left 
     with $650 monthly. I allow myself only $60.00 a month for 
     gas. That does not even fill the tank and because of the 
     inflation rate, when you gross out that figure, that is not 
     enough income for banks to even talk to you about a loan to 
     purchase a fuel-efficient vehicle. Sorry to complain, but 
     things were a lot better in the early nineties than they are 
     today. And this ethanol is a joke! What are people going to 
     do later this year when there is a shortage of corn and soy 
     beans? Will the oil companies, who seem to have no regard for 
     us humans, outbid the food processors so they can make more? 
     And my 23-year-old car, it won't run on it anyway. Nor will 
     anybody else's that I know. When I hear of these CEOs 
     ``earning'' 12 million dollars a year, I just want to be 
     sick. Here is an idea. It will not work, I can hear the CEOs 
     screaming bloody murder already. But here goes: 1) 
     Nationalize the oil companies, 2) Set a nationwide price of 
     no more than $1.50. Eliminate all state sales and road taxes 
     off the price. Set a federal sales and road tax of no more 
     than $.75 cents per gallon. Since diesel fuel is a by-product 
     of gasoline, set a price of no more than $.75 cents per 
     gallon, and allow no oil company CEO to earn more than $2 
     million a year. Like I said, it will never get past Congress 
     (I believe there are too many with their hands out), but 
     would it be nice to be able to bring prices back down, help 
     the little farmer and trucker and all of us old folks. Thanks 
     for your time,
           Your friend,
     Steve.

                          ____________________