[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Pages 24456-24458]
[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 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:

       Thank you for listening to us. Please increase domestic oil 
     production now. If it takes 10 years before we see the oil, 
     then do it for the children. Also, please expand nuclear 
     energy research and production.
     Virginia, Rexburg.
                                  ____

       The price of gasoline has impacted our family budget. How 
     much? I do not know, the price of gasoline continues to rise 
     so quickly it is hard to see the whole impact. A few of the 
     things we need to do are the following: More R&D dollars 
     spent by the government for alternate energy sources; More 
     nuclear plants are need across the nation; More plants to 
     process the oil into gasoline are needed; More taxes on the 
     oil companies, too.
     Kevin, Rupert.
                                  ____

       Yes, we would like to see us drilling for fuel in our own 
     country, exploring all options of new sources and 
     conservation. It is hypocritical to not drill for our own 
     fuel because of the environment and then buy from other (not 
     so friendly!!) countries. We are a small business. We are 
     working on a lower profit margin due to the high prices. We 
     are trying to keep from raising our prices for as long as we 
     can. We are taking steps to minimize our driving. That only 
     goes so far. We support your idea Senator Crapo. Thank you 
     for not signing on to that energy/environment bill.
     Sandra.
                                  ____

       What a bunch of nonsense this is when America supports the 
     Middle East so they can build indoor ski areas, palm tree 
     islands out of sand for the mega-wealthy in the ocean and cut 
     off the heads of Christians and Americans on television while 
     we have enough gas and oil for all of America and more right 
     under our noses.
       What are you, our representatives, thinking? You are all 
     out of control--you speak but you do not act, you type great 
     things, ask for money to support your habit of power seeking 
     at the top, being in the limelight, etc. and you continue to 
     let American go further down in the eyes of the world--not to 
     mention being abhorred by American citizens.
       There is no respect for the office of the President, whom 
     the press refer to as ``Mr. Bush or just Bush'' not President 
     Bush.
       You want our story--we are older American citizens, 63 and 
     65 years of age. We were born in World War II. We lived 
     through Korea. We hid under our desks and against walls in 
     elementary school in fear of the bomb which now our 
     grandchildren have to fear. We lost our husbands, brothers 
     and friends for nothing in Vietnam for a corrupt President's 
     wife to continue to have her trucking companies pay huge 
     dividends into their Texas ranch and still cannot say for 
     sure just who killed President Kennedy. Desert Storm was a 
     joke--what did we accomplish there--in and out and did not 
     finish the job. 911 wasn't funny but we still cannot decide 
     how to handle the ``bad boys'' that blew up our world that 
     horrible day. We are being told that it is just another day 
     in the life of people elsewhere--are we supposed to accept 
     that and just move on?
       And now ``The Changling'' wants to disarm Americans and 
     create a global government--look out for your job--it may be 
     gone sooner than you think. The Program People are winning. 
     We are now disrespected around the world.
       Now we refuse to win in America for real tax-paying 
     Americans, with citizenship, that have earned the American 
     dream and are courting the illegal people in the country 
     while spitting in my face. My husband just

[[Page 24457]]

     turned 66 and 10 months. Whoopee! He may now have a 
     ``reduced'' amount of Social Security because he needs it 
     now--not 6 years from now when it may not even be available. 
     Here's the breakdown:
       The Social Security he paid into for 48 years will give him 
     approximately $1650 dollars a month (Rent/Utilities/
     Insurance/Gas/Food/Medical--probably not enough);
       The Medicare system which he also paid into for years 
     charges him $93.10 a month to continue to be a part of that 
     system he should have earned by now and is broken at best;
       A Medicare Supplement, which you have to have to get decent 
     medical care, costs $125+ a month added to the $93.10.
       A Prescription Supplement runs another $25+ dollars added 
     to the $93.10 and the $125 and we still use $4.00 WalMart for 
     generics when possible;
       And, we still have no dental, no vision, no disability, no 
     long term care and no respect as doctors continue to refuse 
     new patients on Medicare only.
       And don't tell us that Socialized Medicine is any better--
     have a brain tumor in Canada or France or Denmark and wait 6-
     9 months for the MRI that has to be done in the coffin 
     because you, my friend, died of brain cancer that was 
     operable 6-9 months ago.
       We have no debt other than our house and one small car 
     payment. We now have to plan one day a week for errands. We 
     calculate the difference between buying groceries at the 
     closer grocery store with the cost of gas versus the savings 
     we might get at the super WalMart. We chose a new doctor 
     closer to the house. We do not go to the dentist twice a year 
     for cleaning and preventative any more. We have not seen the 
     eye doctor in over a year and a half--the old glasses will 
     have to do for a while more.
       And we still have a business in home and work 40+ hours a 
     week so the government can take back some of the Medicare 
     money they spent on doctor visits and tax 85 percent of the 
     Social Security we earned.
       What a bunch of nonsense, Mr. Crapo! You people need to get 
     a grip and start acting like you care as much about Americans 
     as you do a bunch of thieving, illegal criminals that are 
     robbing us blind and bringing down America. Go get our gas, 
     throw out the illegals, bring down our taxes, put the 
     prisoners that deserve it to work and use the death penalty 
     for the rest of them that cost this country billions of 
     dollar feeding, clothing, housing, educating and medicating 
     when you let small children go without all of the above and 
     live on the streets.
       You, our government are killing our country--America is 
     coming to an end as we know it--will it be a better place 
     with the ``changlings'' taking over--I seriously doubt it--I 
     even seriously doubt that you will read this far because the 
     truth of the situation in America is something our 
     government, elected representatives of the people--do not 
     want to hear.
       Want to talk--I'm all for it.
     Marlee.
                                  ____

       This note is to urge you to vote to resolve the issue of 
     high fuel costs and the impact it is having on the economy. 
     Please consider off shore drilling, increasing the fuel 
     refining capacities as well as research on viable energy 
     resources. Perhaps legislators should study the impact of 
     legislation before implementation, such as the effects on the 
     economy regarding use of corn for alternative energy. Corn is 
     used in almost all food items as well as in animal feed . . . 
     There goes food costs through the trickle-down theory. 
     Question: do legislators have ``think tanks'' they can use 
     before passing legislation that effects us all in such a 
     massive way? And, why are we not using them?
       We are semi-retired and live about twenty miles from Coeur 
     d'Alene, Idaho. Being on a mostly fixed income, high energy 
     costs have certainly caused us to decrease our shopping 
     trips, and to buy only those necessities. Monies we have 
     saved for retirement, we now have to spend.
       Why is it that 14 percent of the population can prevent off 
     shore drilling? It appears that if the U.S. is not going to 
     use this energy, other countries will. I guess it is a case 
     of ``the squeeky wheel gets the grease;'' the rest of us are 
     too busy trying to make a living to lobby.
       I understand that there has been an auto carbuerator 
     available for years that would increase mileage tremendously. 
     What has happened to this?
       Incentives for conservation are great . . . And effective 
     as it has a favorable consequence for the pocketbook.
       We are all for expanding nuclear energy . . . But only if 
     there is a way to rid the world of its byproduct.
           Regards,
     Doug and Stevanna, Athol.
                                  ____

       I appreciate the fact that you are asking for personal 
     stories which helps connect voters to legislation that 
     affects them.
       My husband and I are your typical American family. We are 
     both young, happy, own our home, have two dogs and two cats. 
     We are blessed to have this life. We live in Boise, Idaho, 
     where I work and my husband commutes to Mountain Home Air 
     Force Base every day. He spends two hours a day commuting, 40 
     hours a month driving back and forth between Boise and 
     Mountain Home. This, combined with an 8-12 hour workday, 
     means he is home very little.
       We have been together for three years and every year he has 
     deployed to Iraq. We have not complained about his frequent 
     visits or the minimal compensation that we receive for his 
     leave, because we both understand that it is necessary and 
     important for him to go. But what hurts our family the most 
     is that we are having difficulty affording the gasoline for 
     him to go to work when he's home. We have a fuel efficient 
     vehicle that we are paying the loan on monthly and the gas 
     for commuting is the equivalent of a second car payment a 
     month.
       I am ashamed that our country is so reactive, that we were 
     not prepared to accommodate new forms of energy that could 
     have spared families and businesses from straining their 
     financial means because of gasoline. I am requesting as a 
     citizen, faithful voter and consumer that Congress take the 
     steps necessary to implement a cleaner, more efficient and 
     renewable form of energy to sustain our economy.
     Kristin.
                                  ____

       I was very excited to receive your email and learn of the 
     chance to tell our story of struggle with the outrageous 
     gasoline prices. My husband and I live near the Hunt 
     Relocation Monument in Jerome County. I know you have visited 
     that site, so you are aware how far we are from the nearest 
     towns (about 20 miles).
       My husband is a school teacher. We have five children at 
     home. I have gone back to school to get my teaching 
     certificate so I can contribute to our income, because we 
     cannot make ends meet on a school teacher's salary. With the 
     rising costs of gasoline, we are spending $700 to $800 a 
     month just on gasoline, which is a quarter of our take home 
     income every month! We still have a house payment, bills and 
     the rising cost of groceries to deal with on top of that. If 
     things keep going like this, we will lose our home. We are 
     rapidly going through our savings just to have the bare 
     necessities.
       I urge and implore you and our government leaders to please 
     explore the option of opening up our own oil fields, building 
     refineries, whatever it takes to end our dependence on 
     foreign oil.
     Jim and Janeil, Jerome.
                                  ____

       We are surviving just fine and will continue to do so. We 
     have cut back on driving to places we would go this time of 
     year and do think about short trips. Is this trip necessary?
       I am upset with Congress and their lack of foresight in 
     producing energy in this country. You have made it impossible 
     for oil companies to drill in areas that could produce energy 
     now and in the future. And you continually want to blame 
     ``big oil'' for high prices. I do not. And you spend money 
     that we do not have. How did you vote on the recent farm 
     bill?
       Abolish the code and go to a flat tax, ten percent, with no 
     deductions of any sort. And quit spending!
     Neil.
                                  ____

       Thank you for fighting for us, we are getting pinched hard 
     with the increased price for gas.
       Our family story is not as dramatic as some I am sure you 
     will receive, but it is a picture of Middle America. I work 
     for the Federal Government and have an excellent job for the 
     Orofino area. My wife sells real estate, (need I say more 
     about her recent lack of income). We have two daughters both 
     in high school looking toward possible medical careers. We 
     have been saving for their college education, but with this 
     recent double whammy of housing market crash and high gas 
     prices it looks like we might have to discontinue our savings 
     plan contributions to buy gas to get to work.
       (I feel like a whiner when compared to the financial crisis 
     some ``on the edge'' families must be facing).
       A web site http://www.american
     solutions.com/ has a petition going around to drill here in 
     the U.S. I have read a lot of the site and signed the 
     petition as have many others I know. I read some of the 
     recommended solutions and debunked myths in the solutions 
     forum; I suggest you or staff have a look for some possible 
     answers.
       Thank you again.
     Paul and Kathy, Orofino.
                                  ____

       My family and I live in S.E. Idaho. We have been extremely 
     affected by the high gas prices that have occurred. I will 
     not let my wife drive anywhere unless it is absolutely 
     necessary. She does the grocery shopping and I have got her 
     to only go once every 1 or 2 weeks. The problem with that is 
     that she needs to get out for a 'break', and I won't even let 
     her do that.
       I feel we in the USA should do everything we can to 
     increase domestic oil production, expand nuclear energy 
     research, find other, cheaper fuels, and conserve as much as 
     possible.
     Bob.
                                  ____

       Our family has made efficiency a priority on our automobile 
     travel. There are rarely

[[Page 24458]]

     ``one-stop'' trips being made. Our daughter's, age 12 and 9, 
     are stuck making less plans that require a car trip and when 
     we arrange play dates or outings we try to coordinate 
     carpooling with other parents, to share the load. We have 
     decided to keep our vacation local and will camp in McCall 
     this summer, instead of the previously plan RV trip to the 
     East Coast. I have been a full-time housewife for 9 years. 
     Recently, my husband and I have discussed me going back to 
     work to help supplement the cost of food, goods and fuel. 
     When and if I do consider re-entering the work force, I will 
     look for work close to home. We are also considering the 
     purchase of a more fuel efficient vehicle.
       All of the little things add up and where expenses are 
     concerned I am sure we are like most families who are doing 
     their best to economize while the cost of goods and fuel are 
     rising.
       Please do to whatever you can to aide in the softening of 
     this economic down turn that we are feeling in Southwestern 
     Idaho. Please help to educate the general public on the 
     issues surrounding fuel use and alternatives. Perhaps, by 
     informing and educating the citizens, we will be able to make 
     better choices on the vehicles we purchase. I think the 
     public deserves honest explanations for what the root cause 
     is on the increase of the cost of fuel. Is it the war in 
     Iraq? Is it our relations with the Middle East? Does the 
     housing down-turn have an effect on the dollar value, which 
     in turn changes the ``value'' of oil? I would love to have 
     the knowledge to explain this to my children, however, the 
     media doesn't inform us with facts . . . and I think that is 
     what we need.
       Good luck with your endeavor. Thank you for inviting the 
     Idaho citizens to be included in your collective effort to 
     change and improve our fuel crisis.
     Lisa, Eagle.
                                  ____

       I will write about the impacts being felt by my wife and I 
     and send it to you later. For now, I am forwarding this ``Joe 
     American'' site I hope you and your staff will take time to 
     watch. This man is making more sense than anyone I have heard 
     from Federal, State, or local leadership. http://
 www.youtube..com/watch?v=ZPch2k63uj4.
       Thank you for the work you are doing. I do hope you will 
     find some ideas in the above listed site that will help you 
     to work more effectively.
           Sincerely,
     Orville, Idaho Falls.
                                  ____

       Start drilling in our own country, especially Alaska. 
     Forget about the polar bears-- relief has got to come the 
     consumers way. This is all political and the oil companies 
     are gouging this country--make them accountable and they 
     should be fined and monies returned to the citizens of this 
     country.
     Linda.
                                  ____

       I travel about 140 miles two to three times a week and need 
     to fill up on the third trip each time. Each fill up costs 
     close to $40.00. I think the U.S. should spend more on 
     nuclear power as well as wind and solar power. We should also 
     start looking for oil on our own soil including all of Alaska 
     and off shore. Thank you Senator Crapo for all you are doing 
     for us here in Idaho.
     Doyle, Arco.

                          ____________________