[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 13214-13216]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                IDAHOANS SPEAK OUT ON HIGH ENERGY PRICES

  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, earlier this week, I asked Idahoans to 
share with me how high energy prices are affecting their lives, and 
they responded by the hundreds. The stories, now numbering over 1,000, 
are heartbreaking and touching. To respect their efforts, I am 
submitting every e-mail sent to me through energy_prices@crapo 
.senate.gov 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 printed in the Record today's letters.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

       Senator Crapo: We are not going to be able to take any time 
     to enjoy our great state of Idaho this summer as with years 
     past. The gas to go and return from our favorite spots like 
     Stanley basin, Warm Lake, McCall's Ponderosa State Park is 
     just too much to make it enjoyable. The cost of food

[[Page 13215]]

     clearly is reflective of the fuel pricing. This just makes it 
     far too expensive to go anywhere this summer. I am absolutely 
     disgusted in the way our government is allowing this to 
     happen to the American people.
       I look forward to a movement to begin re-commissioning our 
     own drilling rigs that still sit idle in the Gulf of Mexico.
       I look forward to a movement to begin drilling on our own 
     land for oil that we all know is right under our own borders.
       I look forward to a movement to release and discontinue the 
     excessive storage of emergency fuels.
       I also know that I am not alone in monitoring the existing 
     administration who will not lobby for these items I list to 
     be addressed and resolved. It is time we start taking care of 
     our own with our own resources. This includes limiting the 
     impacts on the greater population by the loud concerns of a 
     few groups. With today's technology we can certainly drill 
     and protect our environment and begin to reduce greatly our 
     dependence on foreign oil(s).
           Respectfully,
     Bill, Boise.
                                  ____

       Dear Senator Crapo: As one of those who voted for you I am 
     pleased to provide a bit of input on the costs of fuel and 
     the impact on myself, my family, and my business.
       Just like the majority of Idaho families, our family has 
     been directly impacted by the very high prices of gasoline 
     and the way it happened . . . so quickly and without reprieve 
     or real alternatives.
       In my business, I must have a good supply of gasoline in 
     order to function. I operate a flight training school for 
     pilots in Nampa. My costs for fuel are always around $10,000 
     per year and that is normally my one major expense associated 
     with my business outside of the other normal overhead costs 
     any other business has. Even so, it is the Numero Uno cost 
     for my business, and now it is about 50% increased from that 
     already very high price. What compounds this loss is that so 
     many people have become too financially short that my 
     customer base is very low now.
       Normally, in the past 7 years, I would be looking at a full 
     student schedule, with at least 3 or 4 on a waiting list. 
     This year, I have a 20% load and no waiting list. It is that 
     sparse due to the economy, then compounded by the very high 
     fuel costs.
       Thanks for the opportunity to provide some direct input on 
     the subject to your office.
           Sincerely yours,
     Gary, Nampa.
                                  ____

       Dear Senator: The biggest impact that gas prices has had on 
     me affects our family. We have six married children and one 
     single daughter spread throughout the west. One in Colorado 
     Springs, CO; another in Mesa, AZ; two in the Orem, UT, area; 
     another in dental school at Marquette; and two in the Boise 
     area. We plan a family reunion every summer, which is usually 
     our once-a-year gathering. We have cancelled our reunion this 
     year, scheduled for Colorado Springs, CO, because of the cost 
     of fuel for everyone. I just can't tell you how disappointing 
     it is to all of us not to have an opportunity to be together 
     this year. We hope that it will not stop us next year.
       I hear all of the reports that America has ample supplies 
     but legislation and environmentalists prevent us from 
     developing the natural resources. We are too late for today, 
     but tomorrow will be here and we need to be prepared to 
     provide for ourselves. All that you can do to make this 
     possible is needed and necessary. Please do your best to make 
     it happen.
     Doug.
                                  ____

       PLEASE pass emergency legislation to exploit America's 
     natural resources. Authorize drilling wherever oil companies 
     think there might be oil or natural gas, authorize nuclear 
     energy and wind power. Set up drilling stations off America's 
     shores instead of letting Cuba and China take our oil. Show 
     some resolve and Yankee ingenuity!
       Americans will downsize and conserve--the market will take 
     care of that, but you should have had us energy independent 
     years ago. We could be sending money to America instead of 
     supporting people who do not have our country's best interest 
     at heart.
       Americans used to take care of problems before this 
     developed into such a serious situation. We used to take care 
     of people who wanted to cause us harm instead of insisting on 
     being ``politically correct.'' Strong countries do not get 
     attacked. Weak countries like what we are becoming do! 
     Congress and the rest of us have all seen this problem coming 
     for many years. Do nothing now and we are on our way to 
     becoming a second-class country.
       Please show the leadership that you were elected to use. 
     Make us energy independent. It does not matter if it takes 
     ten years. Ten years ago, if Congress had ``taken care of 
     business,'' we would not be in this dire situation now. Every 
     drop of oil that is produced in this country is one drop that 
     does not have to be imported from another country.
     Stan, Boise.
                                  ____

       Dear Senator Crapo: Thank you first for this opportunity to 
     voice my concerns, which I'm sure are no different than 
     millions of others. The energy price effect on me is no 
     different than on, I'm sure again, millions of others. It 
     means no vacation, less ``extracurricular'' activities and 
     simply prioritizing vehicle use. Unfortunately, the energy 
     prices have a ripple affect on a lot of things, but I suspect 
     what has the largest impact is the price of food, which is 
     also increasing substantially as it costs so much more to 
     transport it.
       I think Congress' number one priority right now should be 
     reducing the cost of oil/gasoline; however, it is done. I 
     believe that, by doing so, you will resolve and/or improve 
     the majority of other inflation concerns, i.e., the cost of 
     food, clothing. By reducing energy costs, it would likely 
     free up businesses to expand and provide additional jobs, 
     thus reducing unemployment. I see gasoline prices as the 
     ``bane'' of our life right now and anything you can do to 
     resolve this problem is much appreciated.
     Ket, Emmett.
                                  ____

       You and Congress know what needs to be done. Drill now--
     drill HERE! Join China and Cuba off our own shores and become 
     self reliant again. Start drilling in Anwar. Start drilling 
     in Montana. Start using the resources in Colorado in shale. 
     And build more refineries--and you--CONGRESS--loosen the 
     hurdles that make it impossible for anyone drilling and/or 
     building those refineries we need so much--as well as provide 
     alternatives (such as nuclear and solar). Stop wasting time 
     telling ``stories''--and loosen the restrictions that 
     environmentalists have shackled us with! Do your job.
       Just let us become a self reliant nation again!
     Unsigned.
                                  ____

       The rising gas prices have really affected my life. I am a 
     widow who is on a very limited budget--every nickel counts. I 
     am still working and live about 15 miles from my work. There 
     is no public transportation out where I live in Kuna, ID, so 
     I have to bite the bullet and pay these exorbitant prices at 
     the pump, do without going to the movies, out to dinner or 
     buying the new pair of sandals I need for the summer. My 
     elderly mom lives with me and requires lots of travel into 
     town for doctor appointments, which take gas. I usually take 
     her each summer to Wyoming to her home town for a visit. No 
     way can I do it this year what with the gas prices, rising 
     motel costs, food costs, etc. I was in hopes I could look at 
     retiring in a couple of years, but that is definitely on hold 
     now. I can't afford not to work with gas costing me over $50 
     each week to fill up my car. Sure hope Congress gets going 
     and allows us to start drilling for our own oil!
     Louise, Kuna.
                                  ____

       What I would like to see is a two-pronged approach, One is 
     drilling offshore in Alaska, and oil shale in Utah/Colorado/
     Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota, along with nuclear, solar 
     and wind.
       The other is conserving in ways such as: by 2010 all 
     appliances sold are Energy Star-rated; all houses and mobile 
     homes to be built to the Energy Star rating. Instead of the 
     government giving big grants for research, why not do like 
     the X-prize for space travel and put up money for benchmark 
     improvements in things such as 100-mpg cars, solar 
     improvements, wind generator improvements, home energy use 
     improvements, etc. I used to own a hatchback in the late 
     1980s that I would get 42-44 miles to the gallon on the 
     highway. Why cars of that size can't get 60+ mpg now is 
     beyond me.
       Without the Republicans acting more like Teddy Roosevelt 
     and less like George Bush, the Democrats will never go along 
     with the offshore or Alaskan drilling. The other thing that 
     you and other Republicans need to do is to go before the 
     American people and say ``The Democrats in Congress are 
     against the middle class jobs and real living middle class 
     wages and benefits that would be provided with the opening of 
     these locations.'' Norway can drill safely off their shores, 
     and I know the American people can do an even better job of 
     protecting the environment then they can.
       Thanks for your time,
     Unsigned.
                                  ____

       For us personally the high costs of fuel and heating oil 
     have caused some huge changes in our lives. We are senior 
     citizens on a fixed income and the rising costs of fuel and 
     food are way greater then our income and projected cost of 
     living raises that we get from Social Security. Recently we 
     had a death in our family--in another state. The cost of 
     driving or flying there made it very hard for us in our 
     decision not to go. Also we are staying home a lot more. We 
     cannot afford pleasure trips so we have to make every trip to 
     town count. We see people who have to drive out of town to 
     work--and the fuel costs can outweigh the benefits of 
     working. I see American aid poured out to other countries who 
     are in crises and yet the crises right here at home are being 
     overlooked.
       Please take care of Americans first! Stop this oil from 
     going any higher!
           Sincerely,
     Ray and Vi Mueller, Priest River.
                                  ____

       We are an average family of five--Dad, Mom, 16-year-old 
     boy, 9-year-old girl, and 4-

[[Page 13216]]

     year-old girl. My husband is in new home construction, and I 
     am an accounts payable clerk for a university. We both work 
     full-time jobs, and both of us work part-time night and 
     weekend jobs to help make ends-meet. My daughter was 
     diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis a year ago, so 
     we have some very big medical expenses. We have had to travel 
     to Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, from 
     our home in Rexburg, Idaho, every six weeks for the last 
     year. Because of the rise in gas prices and the rising 
     medical costs, I have to work a second job to pay for these 
     expenses. Our vehicle is a 2005 Yukon that gets about 16 
     miles to the gallon, so this trip is not economical, but I 
     don't have any choice but to make this trip every six weeks. 
     Because of the rise in gas, I can't even trade my SUV in on 
     another car because the car dealers won't trade with me. My 
     employer provides medical insurance with my monthly premium 
     costing $250 for my family. My daughter's medication is 
     almost $200 per month and I pay hospital/doctors/lab bills 
     almost $300 per month. With each increase in our monthly 
     expenses, it becomes more difficult to pay our bills. We need 
     help! I am hoping and praying for something good to happen 
     that will help reduce our monthly expenses.
           Thank you,
     Taunya, Rexburg.
                                  ____

       Dear Senator Crapo: As you know the driving distance in our 
     state is unlike most states. My husband and I both travel 
     over 23 miles one way to work every day. Due to the continual 
     increase in cost of the gas we have been carpooling together 
     for over a year now. The biggest problem we have is with 
     every increase in gas so does the increase of everything else 
     you buy, but the wages have not gone up with it.
       Every time we fill our tank, it takes away from groceries 
     and other necessities; with every increase, we are to the 
     point there is not much more to give up. The cupboards are 
     bare, and we try to get by on what is the cheapest and bare 
     minimum, if it continues to go up as it has, we will get to 
     the point were we have to choose between the mortgages and 
     utilities or gas in the tank. If it were not so far away, we 
     would consider riding horses to work every day.
       I think as long as the environment and nature is preserved 
     and monitored, domestic production is OK along with 
     alternative sources. We need to quit being so reliant on 
     foreign oil and start helping ourselves not only for now but 
     for the future.
     Esther, Athol.
                                  ____

       Sir: I am fairly new to Idaho only been here for five years 
     now. I was from Texas. I had some very good friends who [had 
     to cap their family well, which put out 10 to 15 barrels a 
     day]. A lot of people were hurt, not only in Texas, but in 
     other states as well. We should move forward much faster on 
     the part gas/part electric cars for now even the big one to. 
     We should use our own oil and move to anything that we can 
     make for ourselves. I don't like it, but we have to stop 
     being everyone's go-to-guy and start taking care of us for a 
     change.
     Philip.
                                  ____

       I do not wish to share my story but I would like to 
     recommend that we quit sending the Alaskan oil to Japan and 
     use it within the United States.
       I also would like to see Congress open up the known oil 
     fields in the United States today (not someday). Many have 
     been shut down and capped for years. Plus we need to explore 
     for new sites as well as start drilling where we already know 
     there is oil. We need to start building refineries and 
     updating the current ones that we have. Why we ever got 
     ourselves in this mess is beyond me.
       I would also like to recommend that you talk with John 
     McCain and help him get his head on straight. I am not sure 
     why our party has chosen a Socialist for its candidate. If I 
     didn't feel like I was throwing my vote away and maybe even 
     help elect Obama, I would vote for Barr.
       If the Congress continues to do nothing about the energy 
     problem, I think this nation will come down on Congress with 
     a vengeance.
     Suzette.
                                  ____

       The cost of fuel has certainly changed the way I am now 
     living my life. After my retirement, I was planning on visits 
     to my sister (Arizona), my grandkids (Portland) and my 
     cousins in Missouri and New Mexico.
       Now I am tending my garden, growing as much of my food as 
     possible to supplement and help offset the high price in the 
     grocery store. I am not using my clothes dryer; I am lucky 
     enough to live in a subdivision that still allows clothes 
     lines. This might seem minor, but I am cringing at the cost 
     of heating my home this winter and am applying extra money to 
     the gas company.
       I do not go out to lunch with my friends; we talk on the 
     phone but do not have lunches out. We are planning on one 
     lunch a month at someone's home.
       Extra shopping? Not on your life! Since we have no clue 
     have high fuel is going to go, extra spending is not 
     considered. Is this hurting the economy, no doubt about it, 
     but with no reasonable end in sight we have no choice!
     Irene.
                                  ____

       I would have much preferred to see the global warming 
     legislation go through. The energy prices right now are 
     short-term pain, but nothing compared to what we're headed 
     for if the current course is maintained on global warming. 
     Please think in the longer term and consider changing your 
     stance on global warming. And please don't send me one of 
     those garbage ``thank you for your support'' automatic 
     responses. I do not support your vote on this.
     Ilana, Boise.

                          ____________________