Reed sees uphill fight for more home heat aid

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON -- The push for $2 billion more federal aid to help low-income families heat their homes this winter faces major obstacles in Congress, Sen. Jack Reed warned Wednesday.

"We're going to try as hard as we can," said Reed, D-R.I. "We're really running out of time."

Each time the issue has come before the Senate, a procedural objection has been raised that forced heating aid backers to win 60 votes, rather than a simple majority.....

"It becomes a 60-vote hurdle," said Reed, D-R.I. "We haven't gotten over that hurdle."
....
Three Republican senators from Maine and Minnesota, however, won a pledge from Senate leaders to permit a vote on $2 billion in additional LIHEAP aid once Judge Samuel Alito's Supreme Court confirmation hearings are over.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--heataid1228dec28,0,4532528.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork

[ananda]

1. Uh oh

Those reep skunks are holding poor cold states hostage to Alito's confirmation.

That really stinks.

Sue

[KamaAina]

2. Maybe he should ask Chavez and Venezuela

they'll soon be supplying low-cost heating oil to Mass., why not R.I.?

Given the choice between Chavez and the odious repuke congressional leadership, it's Chavez all the way.