Olympia Snowe: “for months we have seen escalating petroleum and natural gas prices, magnified by the effects of three hurricanes. Now…”

“for months we have seen escalating petroleum and natural gas prices, magnified by the effects of three hurricanes. Now with the onset of winter, home heating oil prices are predicted to increase 44 percent in Maine, while natural gas is predicted to be 41 percent higher nationwide. My colleagues and I have called for LIHEAP funding increases for months on each spending bill. This amendment here may be our last chance this year to keep our seniors and disadvantaged from choosing between eating and heating. No American should face this choice. My amendment would add $2.92 billion in LIHEAP funding, bringing it up to the fully authorized level. It is fully offset. The offset addresses a longstanding problem: government contractors aren't paying taxes. It requires government agencies to withhold income tax for the employees of government contractors at a rate of 1.75 percent when they purchase goods and services from government contractors. There should be no mistake--this is an emergency and a crisis we know is coming, and it would be an abrogation of our responsibility to stand by and allow it to occur. It does not take a crystal ball to predict the dire consequences when home heating oil in Maine is $2.45 per gallon, up 38 cents from a year ago, and kerosene prices average $2.75 a gallon, 51 cents higher than this time last year and it's not even winter yet.…”