Maine Op-Ed: Obama's drastic LIHEAP slashing must be opposed vigorously

A proposal from President Obama to slash billions from the low-income heating assistance program, known as LIHEAP, would have a disastrous effect in Maine. The state's congressional delegation should oppose it -- vigorously....

Heat, after all, is not an option. And LIHEAP is an important supplement for thousands of Mainers -- some 63,000 households receive the benefit, according to federal statistics. The benefit, it must be noted, pales against current oil prices: An average of $860 per recipient, about one tank of oil.

The president is proposing, with tacit approval of majority Republicans in Congress, to halve the current funding for LIHEAP from $5.1 billion to $2.5 billion. The National Journal, which first reported the story, did say the program's emergency fund of $590 million would remain. It's not enough...

A more reasonable approach for the president is a gradual reduction of federal LIHEAP spending that's tied to benchmarks of greater energy efficiency. The president's desire to slash the amount of money that Washington spends on oil is understandable, yet his drastic plan puts too many people at risk.

http://www.pressherald.com/opinion/maine-delegation-should-fight-heat-assistance-cut_2011-02-13.html