Obama budget proposal slashes LIHEAP funds

[ProSense]

50. The President

"I don't understand the simple point you are making because you are deflecting."

...proposed budget is always tweaked by Congress. Members of Congress spend months debating the budget. The President previously proposed cuts to LIHEAP.

EXCLUSIVE: White House to Cut Energy Assistance for the Poor
http://www.nationaljournal.com/whitehouse/exclusive-obama-to-cut-energy-assistance-for-the-poor-20110209

Here was the justification.

Bring Cost of LIHEAP Down to Previous Levels. During this period of tough budget choices, the President’s Budget provides $2.57 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help struggling families make ends meet by offsetting some of their home heating and cooling costs. The Budget does not re-propose the creation of a LIHEAP funding trigger included in previous budget requests. The LIHEAP program doubled in FY 2009 following an energy spike, but energy prices are now significantly lower, and the prior level is no longer sustainable. The 50 percent funding reduction brings funding back to the level before the energy price spike. The Administration will continue to monitor energy prices going forward and will be willing to revisit program needs if there are significant price increases

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x611473
Clearly, there hasn't been a 50 percent reduction since the stimulus increase in 2009.



http://liheap.ncat.org/Funding/lhemhist.htm