[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 6347-6349]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                IDAHOANS SPEAK OUT ON HIGH ENERGY PRICES

  Mr. CRAPO. Madam 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 run a small 1-man truck brokerage business. The fuel 
     prices are all but driving my company out of business. The 
     quotes I receive from truckers leave little to no room for me 
     to make a living. I have been in the transportation business 
     for over twenty years and this is the first time I feel I 
     will have close my company. Any assistance that can be 
     offered to help lower fuel prices would be greatly 
     appreciated. Also, health care needs a serious reform. For 
     the first time in my adult life, my insurance premiums exceed 
     my home mortgage payment. If all this keeps up, I will be 
     forced to choose between my home and my insurance. My vote 
     this next election depends on who is willing to actually help 
     with these issues. Something must change soon or millions of 
     Americans will be in financial trouble.
     Randy.
                                  ____

       We need to let technology repair this gas war. It has been 
     said that necessity is the mother of invention. We need to 
     loosen up on new oil well drilling and other forms of energy. 
     The communities that have the wind turbines and oil wells 
     should have cheaper power and fuel. It really eats at 
     Idahoans in Idaho Falls to have wind turbines in our yards 
     and not reap the benefits. We need a few nuclear reactors 
     making energy and ethanol. We need to remove fields from CRP 
     and give farmers incentives to plant. We need technology to 
     invent better engines that use higher blends of ethanol and 
     less oil-based fuels. In the meantime, record numbers of 
     Americans are going to go broke. I personally have cut back 
     my driving by half.
     Todd, Idaho Falls.
                                  ____

       The president needs to overturn the executive order not to 
     develop natural energy resources. [Conservatives] need to be 
     hollering to anyone who will listen that we need oil, natural 
     gas, coal production and nuclear power plants. Americans are 
     not against alternative energy, but let us develop it before 
     we shut off the oil spigot. The Green movement is whispering 
     in the ears of the [liberals] and they have no choice but to 
     be against developing our petroleum resources. Believe me, 
     [liberals] drive as much as I do and are as mad. Help us go 
     forward. There needs to be leadership in D.C., let [liberals] 
     keep saying no to oil, they will cut their own throat. If 
     nothing is done, 1861 is around the corner. T
     Wade.
                                  ____

       Thank you for working hard for us in Idaho. I am a 64 year 
     old man, disabled and on SSA. I have a wife and a 14-year-old 
     son. I live 50 miles from the nearest place where I can shop 
     for food and supplies. I use to go to town once a month. Now 
     I have to try to make my supplies last me a lot longer. Since 
     the price of gas has gone so high, I have a lot less money to 
     buy food after I fill my truck with gas. I go nowhere else 
     except to the doctor.
       Congress talks about everyone conserving and using less, 
     but how much less do you intend for us to conserve. We could 
     go back to the 18th century and become a Third World country, 
     but that seems a little bleak, does not it! I do not 
     understand why our Congressmen are working so hard to make it 
     a reality.
       Congress also tells us to use alternative sources of 
     energy, but there are no sources available, affordable, or 
     viable. Congress is making laws to force us to use energy 
     sources that have not been invented yet (just talked about) 
     or have not been perfected.
       Please weigh the consequences of your actions. The quality 
     of life and the security of America are at stake. Please tell 
     your fellow Congressmen to do what is best for our survival 
     and our way of life.
     Jim.
                                  ____

       We can all say our woes, and how much it cost, but we have 
     to keep going. What I do not get it, why are we not using our 
     own resources? Why are we not becoming self sufficient. If we 
     are ever under attack, I ask you, who will come to our aid? 
     Exactly--no one!
       We need to pull back to the basics here. We are fighting 
     terrorist, as rightly we should. But, they cannot just hurt 
     us with guns and bombs. They can infect our food we receive 
     from overseas, send disease, and undermine our food sources, 
     our fuel sources. This does not take a rocket scientist to 
     figure out. I am just a wife, mother, grandmother working her 
     everyday job and I can see the light.
       America needs to wake up before we are in worse shape than 
     we are now. We send so much overseas. Send them the knowledge 
     to care for themselves. We import so much; why-I have no 
     idea. Wonder why we have so many out-of-work people. We do 
     nothing but outsource everything and take away from our own 
     American families. And why?
       I have lived in Nebraska and Kansas; I see oil pumps 
     standing still. Can you please explain why that is? I see no 
     reason. Please, this is your country going down the tubes and 
     no one is going to save it but us.
     Cindy.
                                  ____

       Thank you for the opportunity to express my thoughts on the 
     current gasoline price/oil price fiasco. As an retiree in the 
     state of Idaho, I have a fixed income. It is not quite to the 
     point of ``gas or food,'' but could be soon under the current 
     trend. We have significantly altered the way we live.
       Some people have said how much it now costs them to go to 
     the coast. We cannot afford to go to the coast as much as I 
     would like to see family and do some chartered fishing. We 
     carefully evaluate local trips to see if they are truly 
     necessary, and attendance at many events within a couple 
     hours drive is eliminated. The cost of oil is tied to most 
     things for transportation, extraction/harvesting and 
     processing. That results in less we can buy as the cost goes 
     up.
       It seems we are unofficially under ``economic sanctions'' 
     by OPEC.'' Under a pure supply and demand situation, we 
     should see the price of oil/gasoline drop when the demand 
     drops. Lately when we drop our demand for oil, the OPEC 
     scales back oil production-keeping the supply low to keep the 
     demand up and the prices high. This is basically declaring 
     economic war on the world in general, and the US in 
     particular. We need to increase our production to override 
     some of this manipulation of our economy. It is time to 
     remove the restrictions on energy development from oil shale.
       The argument that oil companies have ``lots of unused land 
     they have leases on'' is an argument from someone with no 
     idea of

[[Page 6348]]

     how the system works. The companies lease the land to explore 
     and then develop when it is profitable. The oil companies 
     know the potential of lands under their leases by geologic 
     maps and test drilling, and for many areas the time/price is 
     not right for extraction of that oil to be profitable. On 
     other acres under lease there may be no oil at all!
       Oil speculation is another issue that keeps us on high 
     alert. I understand the rules have been changed to allow wild 
     speculation without controls. It is time for the US to become 
     energy self-sufficient, including the use of our own oil, 
     wind and other resources.
     James, Boise.
                                  ____

       So, how are gas prices affecting us? Not much. You see, we 
     have always considered it a civic duty to try and limit our 
     use of our natural resources. We drive modest, fuel-efficient 
     cars. We choose to live in an area that allows us options to 
     use alternate transportation such as bicycles, public 
     transport, and walking. I am not writing this to be smug. My 
     point is that citizens can, and should, take measures to 
     reduce their use of fossil fuels. Nowhere in the Constitution 
     does it guarantee cheap gas.
       Just as I think the citizens have a duty to limit their use 
     of natural resources, I think our political leaders need to 
     make the tough call and instead of reading melodramatic 
     letters about someone not being able visit their dying 
     relative, explain to them that the days of cheap gas are gone 
     and we need to invest in public transport and more fuel 
     efficient vehicles. The drumbeat for more drilling is not the 
     answer either. Our political leaders are doing a disservice 
     to us by bringing up the issue. We need to wean ourselves 
     from our reliance on oil and not add to it.
       Boise is a great city and could be a leader in innovative 
     alternatives to gas guzzling vehicles caught in gridlock. It 
     will take strong political will and citizens ready to do 
     their civic duty to their neighbors and their children.
     Tim, Boise.
                                  ____

       If we would drill for our own oil instead of allowing our 
     enemies drill for our oil it would make a big difference. 
     Another thought that might help would be to at least limit 
     the amount of refined oil that leaves our country and keep it 
     here it would also make a big difference.
     Bob and Cindy.
                                  ____

       Thank you for the opportunity to speak out. I have lived in 
     Idaho Falls my whole life. I am a father of three, married, 
     and have a modest home. Over the past five years, my wife and 
     I have made it our goal to get out of debt, pay off our home 
     early, and save for retirement. I am sure you have heard 
     similar stories before. I am an average guy, with an average 
     income, with an average house.
       In order to put things into perspective, I would like to go 
     back to December 2002. Gas prices at that time were $1.30 per 
     gallon give or take a few cents. In 2003, they rose to $1.80. 
     By 2004, they rose again to nearly $2.00 per gallon. In 2005 
     we saw prices hit $2.50 mark and above. By 2006, Idahoans 
     were paying $3.00 and above for a gallon of gas. As 2007 
     approached, gas prices were in the $3.50 range. As we 
     approach the mid-point of summer 2008, a gallon of fuel is 
     now at the $4.00 mark for regular. I might add here that gas 
     is typically cheaper as winter approaches and demands for 
     fuel are not as great. So these figures are just 
     representative numbers at a glance.
       As you can see, a gallon of gas has tripled in price since 
     2002. If you were to look at historical data, you would find 
     that gasoline prices were stable from about 1985 through most 
     of 2002. For about 17 years, Americans enjoyed what I would 
     consider a fair price for a gallon of gas. I did some 
     research on current gas prices in Iran and Iraq.
       Currently Iran pays 5 cents per liter and Iraq pay 8 cents 
     per liter. If you were to convert liters to gallons, it would 
     take 3.78 liters per gallon. If you were to buy 4 liters of 
     gas (over a gallon), it would cost 20 cents in Iran, 32 cents 
     in Iraq. See link for pricing http://www.nationmaster.com/
red/graph/ene_gas_pri-energy-gasoline-prices&b_desc=1. I 
     could go on, but you get the point. Oil being produced by 
     these countries is reaping the benefit of cheaper prices.
       I must digress a moment. I now need to complain. Remember, 
     I am the average guy with the average income. I would like to 
     talk about how rising fuel prices have affected my family. As 
     fuel prices rise, so have other commodities. Produce, meats, 
     poultry, grains, and dairy have all spiked in the last year. 
     Consumer goods and durables have also risen. The past three 
     years have been very difficult to stay on a budget since gas 
     prices have raised so dramatically. Our family is committed 
     to stay out of consumer debt. We have no credit cards nor do 
     we have any store credit that we borrow from. Both of the 
     vehicles we own are pre-2000 year models. We do not overspend 
     what we make but we feel the crunch and feel that we make 
     less money now than when we did four years ago. The dollar 
     just does not stretch enough these days. It is frustrating 
     and depressing as we budget our money each month down to the 
     penny.
       Now that I have got that off my chest, what is the 
     solution? I firmly believe that America has the technology 
     now to manufacture and make our own fuels. There are many 
     alternative fuels out there that can and already have been 
     developed. Grain alcohol is viable. Continued exploration of 
     fossil fuels is also very important. Alternative energy 
     sources need to be used more. Wind Power in south east Idaho 
     needs to be tapped. Solar energy is another avenue. Electric 
     cars are also viable and cheaper to drive and cleaner than 
     any gas engine. Countries that manufacture their own fuels 
     always pay less at the pump. Why cannot we do the same? 
     Another idea is to offer incentives to states to develop, 
     manufacture, and sell the cheapest (and best) fuels. 
     Regardless of what people think, nuclear power is one of the 
     cheapest and cleanest sources of power on the planet. There 
     are many countries that use nuclear power (Japan) and have 
     for many years without mishap. We need to move forward start 
     implementing existing technology that is proven to work.
       Again, my ideas are not new. This technology is here now. 
     It has been developed. We just need to implement it. Thank 
     you for your time and hope this letter reaches you in good 
     health. I think you are doing a super job for us in the 
     Senate.
     Mark, Idaho Falls.
                                  ____

       I would like to see the speed limit reduced to 55 mph. 
     Everybody knows how that would benefit energy and lives. The 
     75 mph speed limit between Boise and Mountain Home should be 
     the first one reduced. Then cut the 65 mph between Boise and 
     Mc Call. (and right up the line)
     Donabeth, Boise.
                                  ____

       I am 63 years old and last year, right before the prices 
     went out of control, already had purchased an electric bike 
     to use to get to work. Fortunately I only live a little over 
     a mile away and can use this bike that goes 15 miles an hour. 
     My determination to ride this bike increased as the hot days 
     turned into colder ones and I was able to ride my bike 
     through November so I would not have to fill the pick-up with 
     gas too much. Government wants us to recycle to help 
     environment and I am all for it, but when we try to do our 
     part, we do not get any help in return. If you do get an 
     electric car which no one can afford but the wealthy.
       I see my single parent daughter trying to commute and make 
     ends meet and it gets increasingly difficult because with gas 
     prices she goes with less food for family, etc.
       I think it is outrageous for our country and politicians to 
     allow these price increases when we have the means to take 
     care of this country. 20 years ago they spoke of getting 
     alternatives and did not push this issue and had they done so 
     much more could have been done. I am afraid that before long 
     we will see violence in this country mainly because our jobs 
     are gone, price increases in every area of products, but no 
     one ever increases the wages to meet the demands of other 
     increase. What is the matter with people in government and 
     businesses?
       I do not like to see government control but because our 
     business people will not use common sense to see what happens 
     when the jobs go there is not sufficient jobs to go and buy 
     the products. What is wrong with this picture? We need to 
     start taxing products from overseas that come here so 
     business's will come back to the states and put our people 
     back to work. How sad our government has deserted their own 
     people.
       I am hoping with all my heart that someone will step up to 
     the plate and really try to make a difference. We have to do 
     something as everything is getting out of control and it is 
     sad because of what our forefathers have tried to do before 
     us to make it a great country. I am angry and I do not like 
     politics but when I see people trying to do well for their 
     families and that means is taken away from them someone needs 
     to speak up.
     Devera, Nampa.
                                  ____

       Many of our family members are opting out of a treasured 
     activity this summer because of the fuel prices: we normally 
     have a family reunion (as everyone is all over the place) and 
     meet each other and catch up. Many aren't coming because as 
     they said, ``I just cannot afford to pay the gas to drive 
     there and plane tickets are just as expensive.'' My sister 
     and I would not think twice normally about taking a drive 
     down to our relatives or drive to get to our vacation spot, 
     but now we are rethinking going on vacation at all. My family 
     and I have also started buying online because it is cheaper 
     than driving around town to find what we need. We have also 
     cut down our ``dining out'' to practically once every two 
     months (if that). If the local businesses aren't feeling the 
     consequences of that, I'll be surprised because my family is 
     not the only one that is doing it.
       We aren't getting as much fresh produce in our diets this 
     year because they just cost too much (the grocer claims that 
     the fuel prices are affecting the food prices). This also 
     makes us buy less food and the cheaper brands. I have even 
     caught myself of suspecting the grocer and the gas station 
     manager of glutting themselves by gouging us with the ``it is 
     OPEC's fault you pay so much'' (and these people are my 
     neighbors, which makes me feel a little ashamed of myself).

[[Page 6349]]

       All of this is only the parts of my life where I have seen 
     the biggest impact. I really cannot think of many aspects in 
     my life that have not been affected by the fuel hikes. Hope 
     this enlightens you to the trials of at least one voter.
     Jeorgette.
                                  ____

       I do not have much of a different story than many other 
     Idahoans. I work hard each day 11 to 12 hours. I live in a 
     rural area of Canyon County, so ride-sharing or carpooling is 
     not a viable option for me. I have to drive 18 miles to work 
     so riding a bike is not an option especially after putting in 
     a 12 hour day. I drive a small pick up Chevy S-10 to help 
     reduce my gas usage, my wife in I traded in our ford tarsus 
     for a KIA Spectra last November to help save money and 
     protect our budget of the current (November 07) high gas 
     prices.
       What I can say is that the only way out of our current 
     situation is for our Congress to show OPEC, that we are 
     willing to take back control of our oil dependence.
     Robert.

                          ____________________