Senate Republicans block heating aid bill

WASHINGTON — Republicans on Saturday blocked the Senate from considering a bill next week that would nearly double federal aid to help the poor pay heating and air-conditioning bills.

Although a dozen Senate Republicans support the measure, most voted with GOP leaders who would rather spend the time trumpeting their call to expand offshore oil drilling before Congress takes six weeks off for vacation and the presidential nominating conventions.

"The American resources on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts contain 14 billion barrels at a minimum ... more than we have imported from the Persian Gulf in the last 15 years," said Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M.

Democrats needed 60 votes to substitute the measure on heating and air-conditioning aid in place of the debate on an expansion of offshore drilling championed by President Bush and GOP presidential candidate John McCain. They got 50 votes Saturday, with 35 Republicans voting against changing the topic.

"Do we vote to keep the old, the sick and kids alive when the weather gets cold or very, very hot, or do we spend money on people who make huge campaign contributions? That is part of what this debate is about," said Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont.

The government is devoting $2.6 billion in subsidies for helping people with low incomes pay heating and air-conditioning bills this year. Sanders' bill would nearly double that to $5.1 billion.

While Senate Democrats said they hoped to pass it next week, Democrats in the House were looking at the popular subsidies for anchoring a second economic aid bill they want to push in September, closer to the November election.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is vehemently against letting the House vote on offshore drilling. She and Democratic leaders in the Senate also have shut down normal summer work on spending bills to prevent offshore drilling from getting a legislative footing in the appropriations committees.

___

On the Net:

Information on the heating aid bill, S.3186, can be found at http://thomas.loc.gov/

Comments

[incontempt]

02:28 PM on 07/27/2008

Republicans, FIND MORE USELESS is your motto ;-)

[nbg]

01:26 PM on 07/27/2008

This is typical of the do nothing congress (including the dems). I'll bet anything (and I say this with a heavy heart), the american people will vote mccain in...for at least 4 more torturous years. the people in this country are too self serving and bigoted to give Obama a chance to begin turning things around. This country is doomed. We (and I use this collectively) have given the people in power the right to torture, lie to us, select incompetents to 'serve' us and undermine the constitution and what america used to stand for and 'we' have allowed it. It is a sickening state of affairs and there doesn't seem to be any change in sight. It is NOT America, love it or leave it...it is America, love it and make changes to see that we keep it honest, compassionate and a place where there is truly justice.

I know I will be doing the right thing and giving the 'new guy' a chance...what will the rest of this country do? Sadly I think...nothing.

[Torus34]

12:08 PM on 07/27/2008

Month by month, the type size used for the first word of 'compassionate conservative' should be reduced.

[whatsreallygoingonhere]

11:32 AM on 07/27/2008

Oh really? They don't care about heating and air-conditioning for the poor, the elderly, etc.

How about all the money that's wasted for heating and air-conditioning in the House and the Senate...let alone the White House. Let's take control of their thermostats.

That thought came to me while sitting here watching these creeps on C-span, in their suits all cool and comfortable blabbing away and doing nothing for the people of this nation. If I can sit here with only one light on, using only a ceiling fan unless it's incredibly hot/humid so can they.

How about letting the 'leaders' rule by example. They probably wouldn't show up for 'work' if that happened.

The elderly need heating and a.c. I worry whenever there's a heatwave because my Mother (in another state) often doesn't put her a.c. on because she's on a fixed income and the cost has skyrocketed. Anyone that doesn't know or care about these people's comfort (let alone their health) should have to live the way they do for several months. They'd change their minds REAL fast!

I can handle the heat most of the time and conserve any way I can. The sick and the elderly NEED this assistance.

[Redrover666]

10:50 AM on 07/27/2008

You folks play this for all you like. This doesn't fool anyone, it's a nothing more than an effort to prevent offshore drilling while attempting to make Republicans look as though they don't care about the little guy. Another democratic obstruction, was all this bill was. Who do you think you're kidding?!

[BEHM777]

11:25 AM on 07/27/2008

Why can't the oil barons drill on the 68,000,000 acres of land that they already hold leases on? Why not do first things first? Do you realize that the machinery to build the ocean going rigs needed to explore for offshore oil isn't even available today? Maybe by 2013 it will be available---maybe. Add 10 to 15 years after that to get any oil that is found to market. What to do? Explore for oil on the land that has already been leased.

It is established FACT that Republicans don't give a hoot about the "least of these". Apparently you look at the news with one eye shut.

YOU have been taken for a ride if you really believe what you post implies you believe. I am truly sad for you and your ilk. Mental (and MORAL) poverty such as yours has this nation in the state it is in.

BEHusseinM777

[Ramirez]

11:47 AM on 07/27/2008

Good points, Hussein.

Oil barons. They're only in it for the money.

The oil barons want to drill where they can extract the most oil at the lowest expense! And they want to drill for the highest quality oil so they can sell it at the best price they can get! Greed, I tell you! GREED!

But I can live with that if an increase in domestic production will lower prices AND reduce our dependence on foreign oil. I think we should begin off-shore drilling, and soon. And if it takes years to get the oil that's even more reason to begin.

Remember that in 1995 President Bill vetoed drilling in ANWR. The Democrats biggest argument was that we wouldn't get any oil for ten years.

[danoj]

12:06 PM on 07/27/2008

The rigs are available and many are already in place just idled due to the offshore ban. The taimeframe to bring oil to market given by the Dems is so far off it's not funny. The industry has said 2 to 3 years tops to get oil to market from offshore 6 tops from ANWR. Moreover they aren't drilling the leased acres because there is nothing there. Doesn't take much to figure that out, and hat's why 70% of the country is currently in favor of going after our own supplies wherever they exist.

[savethecountry]

12:01 PM on 07/27/2008

This is about choices, Redrover666, and most Senate Repugs would rather further line the pockets of their big oil friends and campaign contributors (who can drill to the cows come home in areas already approved for drilling) than keep poor people from FREEZING TO DEATH this winter. LIEAP (Low Income Energy Assistance Program) funding has taken a number of hits recently because of past Repug majorities and recent obstructionist Repubs in Congress. The federal CSBG (Community Services Block Grant) has decreased during that same time while the VERY legitimate needs of the poor (you know, housing, heat, food, health care, those kinds of luxuries) have increased. In the meantime we've experienced record oil profits while the costs of gasoline and heating fuel have reached historic levels. If a vote is not allowed on increasing LIEAP funding, then someone should start a ticker that counts the number of poor people who will DIE this winter as a result. There will be many, and those responsible for allowing it to happen should know EXACTLY how many people they’ve murdered (malice aforethought being the standard for murder, which we have here).

The Democratic Congress since 2006, and its desire to help those least able to help themselves, has been held hostage by obstructionist Repubs. That's why it is at least as important, if not more so, to get working majorities in the US House and Senate this year as it is to elect Obama president.

[wizardofoz]

08:20 AM on 07/27/2008

I just love that photo of the three of them with that sign(FIND MORE USELESS).

[UnknownSoldier]

08:33 AM on 07/27/2008

You can't make this sfuff up.......... LOL

[mari2JJ]

03:42 AM on 07/27/2008

Well Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M is retiring but I shall surely work against Kyl here in Arizona. Of course, McCain has not been available for a vote for ages. Kyl is useless to stand up for his constituents. Although I live in Arizona and in the area of the state where I live has moderate winters, some Arizona residents need heating assistance in the winters here. We have had those two Republicans in the Senate for far too long. With all the benefits going to the rich, this takes the cake. When I was young, my father died in the 1937. My mother had no preparation for work in an office so all of us worked as migrants. I remember well in the winter when we were home, not having enough fuel for a fire and we were all so cold. It is truly no fun to be in that position and of course, Republicans care less if folks freeze. They would join the chorus "Let them eat cake" they are so cold-hearted. Good grief, how self centered and callous for them to do this. McCain talks a good story, he is often AWOL from his senate When will we start docking Senator's pay for their absent days?.

[rucognizant]

06:59 AM on 07/27/2008

THANK YOU, mari2JJ
Kyle NEEDS To GO!
As for me, I will plan to petition McConnell and his wife Elaine Cho Labor Secretary, for a guest room through the coldest part of the winter as I live in Maine.
At least the Robber Barons of the Gilded Age supported the Arts by hosting painters for long periods of time so that they could paint uninterrupted!
Without that gracious hospitality the magnificent paintings of Rockwell Kent would probably not exist!
( and he had several wives, not simultaneously, and at least 5 kids who also stayed with the patrons!)
They spent an entire winter with someone while Daddy camped out in a cabin in Alaska, painting.
If the Republicans insist on rolling histoory backward........lets go Waaaaaaaay back!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockwell_Kent

[deke33]

07:38 AM on 07/27/2008

The American public was suckered in by deregulation. Since deregulation, we were told, will create greater competition the prices of commodities and utilities will go down. I remember paying $12.00 a month for cable TV and if the cable company wanted to raise its rates it had to get the ok of the Mayor and village trustees. Utilities had to go to the state Public Service Commission to get rate increases and had to justify their increases. Who among us is not paying more for our electricity, telephone service, heating fuel, water bills, cable TV bill since deregulation. Just as Domenici doesn't want McCain near the trigger, I don't want domenici near a deregulation bill, or for that matter near an attorney general trying to do his job.

[southview]

02:35 AM on 07/27/2008

It is sad indeed when the greed of the oil industry and their bought and paid for Republican Senators rather contemplate their bottom line than the condition of the citizens of America in times of need. They should be ashamed, but they are to heartless to give a damn!

[Ramirez]

11:55 AM on 07/27/2008

They're businessmen. It's their job to contemplate their bottom line.

If they gave all their money to the poor there wouldn't be any gas for me to buy.

[RTIII]

10:07 PM on 07/26/2008

Anybody but me notice that the Dems control the AGENDA?!

Yeah, sure, Reid, Pelosi, complain about what the Rs want to do that you can't stop. SURE. How disingenuous. WE KNOW you control the agenda. If there's something you don't want passed, it doesn't ever get scheduled at all!

In short, it's a lie to say there's something that ever got a vote that Reid / Nancy didn't want or at least not mind.
.

[Fernando]

08:52 PM on 07/26/2008

Jesus Christ! Republicans would only need ONE issue like this to bury Democrats on Election Day. Why can't Democrats get any traction out of the half a dozen issues like this in which Republicans are voting against the poor? Let's subsidize the oil industry but let's not support a bill to help poor families pay their heating.

It's a rhetorical question, people. The answer is: Because they are spineless.

[UnbiasView]

09:04 PM on 07/26/2008

Probably because millions of Americans are sick of paying massive taxes and they see that others are just living off of them for nothing.

There are 3 issues that matter right now:

Energy (75% of Americans want to drill for oil, edge to the R's)
Economy (Neither side has a good solutions)
Iraq (D's have the edge although Americans do want to win)

[UnknownSoldier]

09:11 PM on 07/26/2008

UnbiasView

Either your view is Biased, or Wrong.

(Iraq) Bush said the MIssion was Accomplished, bring the troops home, we already won.

(Energy) 100% of Americans paid for the clean up of the Exxon Valdez OIL SPILL in Alaska, and are now awaiting Exxon/Mobil to pay the fine.......... OOOPs the court threw that out., so basically the American Tax Payer paid for the clean up, but got none of the profits.

(Economy) You're right

[ikesambobby]

02:55 AM on 07/27/2008

That's crap UnbiasView. How dare you complain about paying "massive" taxes after all the money that is being blown/lost/ STOLEN from us in Iraq. Every time I hear that I want to slug somebody. Where did you get that 75% figure on drilling anyway? Ted Stevens in Alaska? And please, please tell me what "winning" mean's when it come's to the Iraq war. I can never get a clear answer on that.

[UnknownSoldier]

09:35 PM on 07/26/2008

Fernando

The problem is the Mainstream Corporate controlled Media (MSM) the media has bias against Democrats. CNN Headline "Obama Ignores Military Commanders" "Obama Overrules Military" these were the CNN headlines after Obama left Iraq. Gen. Petreaus gave Sen. Obama an assesment and Sen. Obama gave his opinion of that assessment, that is not ignoring or overruling.

[richardmcnoggin]

08:34 PM on 07/26/2008

OK, Fine but even IF... IF ALL the repubs in the Senate and the House were replaced AND if Obama wins.. I guarantee it WILL NOT bring down energy cost one penny. GUARNTEED THEY WILL GO UP!!!!!! The Dems are too beholden to the Socialist environmentalists and we are cornered into cutting back on our standard of living...Mark my word.

[strick9]

08:41 AM on 07/27/2008

If the oil companies really wanted to drill for oil they could drill on the leases the already hold. The only people drilling now are the wildcat drillers on private land. The major oil companies are setting on the leases the hold to get control of the offshore and wilderness areas too. They want it all! If they gain control of all the leases on public lands what do you think will happen to the price of oil? I would also like to know who gets the profit for the oil produced on public land anyway? Shouldn't that go into the tax base, be applied to the national debt , repair bridges, help poor, or something constructive.

[danoj]

10:55 AM on 07/27/2008

Not hard to figure out; there is nothing on those leases they hold. For the life of me I don't know why Dems are harpping about those leases. The American people are smart enough to figure out if there was oil there oil companies would be pumping it. That's why 70% of the country is in favor of more drilling everywhere there is a oil to be found.

[UnbiasView]

08:31 PM on 07/26/2008

May I ask a question to everyone, why should other people be forced to pay for someone's heating? The people receiving the aid probably already have their house subsidized, receive food stamps and welfare checks.

At some point these people need to grow up and pay for their own crap.

[ikesambobby]

03:00 AM on 07/27/2008

How about maybe their job's have been outsourced, a family member is fighting a disease that their spending all their money on medication and doctor's bill's for, or they've lost their home's due to the mortgage industry raping! I'm glad I'm not a neighbor of your's. What would Jesus do? More drilling for the fat bastard's of the world?

[UnbiasView]

11:20 AM on 07/27/2008

Time to grow up and stop whining then, get some new skills or go back to school. We're living in a global economy now and if someone else can do the same job at a cheaper price they are going to get the work.

[rucognizant]

07:23 AM on 07/27/2008

VERYBIASED VIEW..................
Well.......... why should I be paying John McCain $2,000. per month, SS ? With his Senate salary, his military disability check, and his wifes money........... One would hope he had the grace to refuse his SS checks. How do you feel about supporting him?
Or, there is that 3 BILLION we give to Israel every year, and many other countries...........is that OK?
Or how about the draconic tax laws ( made by Republicans in the past 30 years) that straight jacket and hog tie small business so that people who DESPERATELY WANT TO PAY FOR THEIR OWN CRAP, are penalized instead of enabled!
When I had stocks....dividends WERE TAXED! Now that I've had to sell them off to survive.......dividends are a non taxable item.
Is that how YOU pay for YOUR CRAP? It;''s obvious that you aren't a small business owner!

[Americatortures]

08:28 PM on 07/26/2008

...and Millions of poor and lower-middle income fools will vote Repuke in Nov......hoping their old blankets and used sweaters will get them through till next summer---because, as the polls show.....too many of them refuse to vote for a Black man who can help them...sounds like "All in the Family" and Archie Bunker to me!!! Right,Meathead???

[UnbiasView]

08:34 PM on 07/26/2008

Give me a break, this government continues to go in the whole and us paying for everything and everyone's problems is going to bankrupt us.

[ann1]

09:14 PM on 07/26/2008

You mean like the cost of this war!.

[danoj]

10:23 PM on 07/26/2008

I consider myself a conservative Repub, but even I understand as a country we have to take care of the poor. That being said, need to know what is attached to this bill etc., need to know why it was not supported. This article is short on details.

[strick9]

09:01 AM on 07/27/2008

I remember a black comedian once saying, "A black man voting Republican is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders." I disagree; there are some rich black people who fit the Republican mold. To be more appropriate, anyone who works for a living voting Republican is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders. If you make less than $250k your voting against your own interest.

[danoj]

10:03 AM on 07/27/2008

Poor folks black, white, brown, purple, pink. It doesn't matter have been voting Democrat for 50 years, and they are still poor. Go figure.

[Ramirez]

11:50 AM on 07/27/2008

Taxpayers overwhelmingly vote Republican.

People who do not pay taxes (poor, low-income, retired, etc) overwhelmingly vote for the Democrats.

[pithy]

07:12 PM on 07/26/2008

The first sentence of this article is slightly incorrect - "to help the poor pay heating and air conditioning bills..."

With heating oil currently at $4.54 a gallon here in upstate New York, it will be many more than just the traditional "poor" who will be very cold this winter.

My husband and I will be two of them.

Most of our area is rural, and the houses are 100+ years old. Ours was built in 1860. No matter how much insulation, duct tape, window plastic, and door draft stoppers we use, it's still a tank (275 gallons) about every six weeks during the 25-below weather of Dec., Jan. & Feb. That's $2500, minimum, without including electricity.

I suggest everybody buy stocks in sweaters, slippers, and down comforters.

[Totto]

07:11 PM on 07/26/2008

Releasing oil from the Strategic Oil Reserve or making speculation less obscenely profitable never occurs to Republicans. If it doesn't make lots of money for their rich pals, they're against it. Hope the Republicans of New Hampshire enjoy their home heating oil bills this winter.

[UnbiasView]

08:35 PM on 07/26/2008

Releasing a few million barrels won't make a difference would it? Dems said drilling that would give us a few million per day would not have an effect so if you stick with the same logic.

[strick9]

09:16 AM on 07/27/2008

It Takes time to drill a well and get it into production, we olny have to pump out instead of into the reserve. duh?

[danoj]

10:27 PM on 07/26/2008

How is releasing oil from the stratigic reserve and replacing it with something else going to boost supply? I as a repub think they should take the speculators out of the American market, but understand this is only going to drive the speculators off shore where we have no control over them. We need to tap our own resouces for the short term, invest heavily in alternate energy and nuclear power in the long term. Any less will accomplish nothing.

[strick9]

09:13 AM on 07/27/2008

Do you have a basement for us to use to store the nuclear waste? Haven't we left enough of a mess for grandchildren to clean up? It's dangerous longer than humans have been on earth.