Idahoans Speak Out on High Energy Prices
Floor Speech
IDAHOANS SPEAK OUT ON HIGH ENERGY PRICES -- (Senate - September 11, 2008)
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 energy There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows: I am writing this letter out of somewhat desperation with the costs of energy lately. We live about 35 miles south of Lewiston on property that my grandfather purchased in the early 1940s. I have been disabled and am on Social Security Disability after working over 25 years in the utility and communication industry. My wife has been working in the health care insurance business for over 20 years and drives back and forth every day to work. We were budgeting and spending about $200-$250 per month for gas. In the last two months, it has increased to $425 per month! I know a little about all the oil reserves in Montana, North Dakota as well as other places even offshore and the untapped areas in Alaska for drilling and several capped oil/propane wells that have already been drilled. I am familiar about the open pit mining in Centralia, Washington; Montana and Wyoming. I was working when they moth-balled the nuclear plants at WASOP. I use these areas as examples in the Northwest because this is where I live and I am more familiar with them. We have taken several conservation measures to cut our energy costs at our home, but you can only do so much! I hardly ever even leave the house anymore because I cannot afford to drive my (small) Ford Ranger F150 pickup, just only to doctor appointments. What can you do to start helping other Americans like us here in Idaho and the Northwest? Congress should put our families first, ahead of the environmentalists! These people are driving up costs at an alarming rate! I believe in treating our resources properly and our environment respectfully, but come on, use our heads! These environmentalists are making it impossible to survive anymore. We need to decide if American people are going to survive or is it going to be a small snail, a kind of fish or a spotted owl, which, by the way ruined the lumber industry in the Northwest. After research, they found out it was a bigger owl killing the smaller ones! How much money did that cost the people and industry brought on by environmentalists? It is survival time, folks ..... let us start using our heads. We need to start using our own resources now, not later, and stop depending on other countries because you see where that has positioned us. Open up the reserves, uncap oil wells, less restrictions on open pit coal mines, put more nuclear plants on line. Stop using wheat and corn for bio-fuels because it is killing us at the grocery stores, better yet, stop wasting money on bio-fuels because it is not cost effective. There are more actions that need to be taken, but the ``most important'' thing is that we need Congress to start acting Now to help us survive before it is too late. Please! Sincerely and with respect, -- I guess I have to admit that you are probably representing the views of the majority of the people in Idaho. Sadly, that is a very short-sighted viewpoint. My story is that I am trying to walk more and ride my bicycle when I can. Generally, I am trying to be more energy conscious. The bottom line is that we Americans are missing the point. For three reasons, we have to change our way of thinking. The first is for our own health. Frankly, we do not get enough exercise because we have become so dependent upon the automobile. Take a look at your local high school parking lot sometime. We are actually educating kids not to walk or ride bikes. Take a look at the country as a whole, and you will see a serious obesity problem. Take a look at our cities and ask the question, ``How safe is it for a family to ride a bicycle to the store or to the park? How safe is it for children to ride to school on a bike? How safe is for a mother to take her child to the grocery store on a bike? Sadly, the basic answer seems to be: ``Who cares?'' Frankly, you should! The second reason is also related to health. When Idaho's cities grow, with the corresponding dependence upon gasoline, the wonderful clean air that people brag about deteriorates. The Rathdrum Prairie and the Spokane Valley are set up very much like the Los Angeles basin. It is only a matter of time before we restrict woodburning stoves in the winter and increase emission standards on vehicles. The third reason is for the health of the planet. The hole in the ozone layer and the problems caused by global warming may not be entirely caused by the internal combustion engine, but they have played a significant role. Just think for a minute of what this world is going to look like if we continue down this path, and China, Africa, India and the rest of the world drive cars the way we do. Our children and grandchildren will have a difficult time breathing, and that will be just the beginning of the problems they will face. Capitalism certainly has its strengths as an economic tool. But somebody has to control it, or it will lead us to our own destruction. It is a system designed to create profit for people who answer needs. Fifty years ago or more, our system began ``creating needs'', like a MacDonald's hamburger, a Corvette Stingray, or a piece of waterfront property all to myself. Originally, these seemed like simple enough requests, but look at what we have become. Our religions tell us wealth does not make us happy, but we do not really hear that. We flatter men and institutions who treat nature like their own possession. Sadly, I would bet that very few people in Idaho are writing you letters like this. I wish you had the wisdom and the courage to begin to turn the thinking of the people of this state around. My question to you is simply, ``If we keep going this way, what do you think Idaho and this country will look like in 50 more years. I predict your children and grandchildren will be saying, ``Wow, we did not know that would happen!'' Just as much as we are saying now that we wish the miners of the 19th and 20th centuries had said, ``Maybe we should have more concern for our lakes and rivers''. Just as I would say now, ``Why did not our forefathers have the wisdom to see that turning the shoreline of our lake over to private property owners is a serious mistake.'' The waters of Idaho just as the ocean around the islands of Hawaii should have remained public property. ``Those who refuse to learn from history are destined to repeat it.'' We are there! Good luck with your programs. I know you are a good and thoughtful man, and you cannot singlehandedly turn this state or this country around, but I hope you will begin to open your eyes and your mind to some other possibilities. We need that from you. -- Thank you for the email telling us of your position on the energy crunch. I heartily support tapping the petroleum resources we have here in the United States and, from all that I have heard, we have the technology to do it in an environmentally-friendly manner. I understand that Congressman Chris Cannon of Utah is making efforts to develop oil shale fields that are located under Utah, Colorado and Wyoming. I support this and hope that you will uphold these efforts if corresponding bills reach the Senate. Also, please do whatever you can to support the development of technologies that will allow us to tap these resources in more efficient and environmentally conscientious ways. I also support expanding our use of nuclear energy. My understanding is that the popular fears of nuclear power plants are largely based on myth. And most of the ``waste'' produced is either relatively benign, or can be recycled or reused. If federal regulations were changed so that all radioactive byproducts did not have to be shipped to a nuclear waste repository, we would have plenty of space in places like Yucca Mountain for the 2 percent of nuclear ``waste'' that actually should be there. France produces 80 percent of its electricity from nuclear power. What in the world is holding the U.S. back from building more nuclear power plants? I am all in favor of expanding our refinery capacity and in developing alternative energy sources, such as biodiesel. Please do whatever you can to bring about changes at the federal level so that the private sector can go to work developing technologies and resources and solve these growing problems. I pray that your fellow legislators will take the extreme environmentalist lobby with a grain of salt. I agree that we are ``too dependent on petroleum,'' and that we are ``far too dependent on foreign sources of that petroleum.'' We need to move forward in tapping the resources we have. We need to do so in an environmentally conscientious manner, but we need to move forward. -- What would really help is if this information could be put into the hands (and heads!) of the other Senators, Representatives and President Bush. I am sure you are looking for sad stories of starving babies and missed vacations due to the price of energy lately. My story is quite different. I have taken the issue of high gas prices as an opportunity to change my lifestyle. I ride my bicycle more instead of driving everywhere, I have started enjoying activities that occur in my own backyard instead of ``going somewhere'' to have a good time. I have actually enjoyed the peace and quiet this gives me. Its funny how our ``on the go'' American lifestyle in search of ``a good time'' can be solved by NOT being on the go! : ) Now I am sure there are people (many people) who are severely hurt from change in energy prices, BUT ignoring the issue and waiting for someone to bail them out is NOT the right solution. I have learned to live within my financial budget and not spend more than I make (something my grandfather taught me). I take the same approach to energy. If I cannot afford to do it, I just find other things to do! No more whining and wanting handouts! No more subsities. Let the price of gas/oil go whereever the market will take it. Let us diversify our energy sources and get rid of this ``single point of failure''. I would even go so far as to say we should NOT ``fully utilize proven American oil and natural gas reserves'' (leave them for a real rainy day) and lets put our time and effort into diversifying. -- Something has got to give! My husband works ten hour-days and sometimes six days a week in the woods as a logger. I work as a school bus driver eleven months a year. (Neither one of us has to drive to work, thank God!) We live at least 50 miles roundtrip from the doctor's offices, bank, grocery stores, etc. Our gas bill averages around $400 a month since January '08. Our heat/energy bill averages $400 a month. We have tried to make our trips to town count as we would stock up and shop for necessities a few times a month. However, that has also changed as we cannot afford to stock up as grocery prices have skyrocketed. We now do without. Our extra money is being eaten up by fuel, energy costs and groceries and we are not living high on the hog!! We cannot afford the fresh food that does not last a week in the refrigerator and cannot afford to go 50 miles for fresh stuff weekly. We have tried to help our only daughter who lives 80 miles away and can barely cover rent and student loans (who, by the way, did not qualify for a stimulus check when she has worked and went to college, her income was $6,000.) To top it off, we do have credit card debt and perfect credit, which we've worked hard to achieve!! But apparently due to the credit crises(?), we received a letter that now our interest rates are going up even though we have never been late with a payment or exceeded our limit! Our retirement accounts are crashing, according to news releases; that is also due to oil prices and speculators! We have had the American Dream, and it is slipping away!! Time for some changes, sick to death of environmentalists who probably do not even work! Fed up in rural Idaho. -- I advised my state representatives against passing legislation for ethanol production. I hope I was not the lone voice. I am alerting all who are willing to listen or read of the manipulation of the United States of America into the North American Union and subsequently an Emergent World Government. You will either be unaware of this activity, a proponent of it, or opposed to the premise of the dissolution of the US of A. I know what is on the horizon for America and planet Earth. Our current path need not be a willing venture. We have the resources and the resolve to lead the world. We do not need to abdicate that role to a dozen Global families. The link I provide below is revealing. According to Lindsey Williams, a Baptist Minister who worked with oil exploration companies in Alaska, the U.S. has all the oil it needs for the next 100 years or so. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3340274697167011147 This information needs but one Senator or Representative to bring it to the floor and into the light. It may be too late already. If you wish to discuss this at length, I will avail myself. Respectfully, -- I am a typical Idahoan, born and raised here. I work as Rehabilitation Counselor for the State of Idaho. I work with individuals who are typically low income, or reliant on Social Security Disability Awards for their living. The gas prices have hit these individuals very hard. Many have a strong desire to obtain employment and earn a gainful wage, but with gas prices at $4/gallon, they simply cannot afford to go to work. There is not a reliable bus system, no train system to be utilized, and so they decide to sit at home. The nearest areas offering the best employment options are 20 miles away in either direction. Not a bad commute as the traffic is relatively minimal, but an $8, $9, $10/hour job simply does not offset the cost of fuel. I live five minutes from my office, and I find myself wondering how I will pay for the fuel. I laugh when I see the oil representatives say they pay the same amount for gas as the rest of us. They may pay the $4/gallon I do, but it has minimal to no impact on their wallet when compared to the average American. Please work harder to find a suitable solution that is long term and equitable to all Americans. My story is not dramatic. It probably is not unique, but I think that is why I am taking the time to email a response to your news letter. -- I am a thirty-year-old mother of two young boys and registered nurse. My husband and I budget. We save. We avoid debt. Our home is modest, much of it built with our own hands. We each drive a ten-year-old car. We rarely eat out. We will also earn nearly $86,000 this year, far above the median Idaho household income. Yet, I am feeling the burden of increased energy costs. How can that be? Our story really began with 9-11, or the economic downturn that immediately followed it. Downsizing, and then more downsizing meant layoffs for my husband, a new college graduate at that time. Jobs were scarce for new grads, and we depleted our savings, eventually turning to credit cards in order to feed and insure our young family. The economy picked up and he found consistent work. Then, I graduated from college and we began attacking our credit cards with added fervor. The future began looking brighter. We set debt payoff goals and looked for ways to reduce the number of my hours away from home so that I could focus on our young boys. This December I was going to work one less day per pay period. It was going to be our Christmas present to our family. Now that dream does not seem likely. Increases in energy have led to price hikes around the board. Wheat costs have skyrocketed, fresh produce too, and, let us not even talk about milk and gasoline. The increases mean that, in order for us to pay off our debt and continue saving, I will have to continue working my regular schedule. If we want any extras, like a date out, an occasional vacation, or to finish projects around the house, I have to work extra shifts to cover those. I do not see how I will be able to reduce the number of hours at my job. You ask what priorities I think Congress should set to solve this crisis? My answers may seem a little strange, but I am a believer in capitalism, fiscal responsibility and hard work. They really do work! I would like to see our leaders: Increase domestic oil production & alternative energy production. Remember the South? Many say that they lost the war because they did not have infrastructure. We need to remember past mistakes so they do not revisit our future. Our refineries are aging. We import more than we export. Regulations make it nearly impossible to build new refineries and expensive for new drill sites. We need to find a balance with responsible environmental practices that allow new refineries to be built and natural resources to be extracted. Do not set price caps. If oil and gas become too expensive, there will be incentive for alternative fuels & for Americans to conserve! Look at ways to decrease our tax load. Americans work very hard for every penny we earn. Find ways to be more fiscally responsible so that our tax burden can be lightened to help offset our increasing energy expenses. Do not forget the younger generation. My generation is paying thousands in to social security & other programs that will be bankrupt before we ever get to use them. We feel the added strain of paying now, while trying to find ways to be self sufficient because we expect to have a bankrupt country by the time we get to retirement age. We need to invest in our future. And please do not forget our little children. What legacy will we be leaving them? Quit labeling the Oil Companies as the bad guys. Our current conundrum is nothing more than the classic supply versus demand. If demand goes up and supply cannot meet it, the cost will go up. This concept is taught in economics classes around the country. Why should we expense the oil companies to work for nothing? These companies provide many Americans with good jobs. Let us find a way to bring more of these jobs home! Thank you for your time,
BARNEY and PATTI, Winchester.
RICHARD.
BLAKE, Hamer.
DAX.
SCOTT and SHANNON, Deary.
DENNIS.
Trenton.
DIXIE, Rexburg.
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