Helping people in tough times

Editorials

Discussion

October 22, 2008

State commits more to heating assistance

Anonymous The Tribune-Democrat Wed Oct 22, 2008, 11:23 AM EDT

With many Pennsylvanians facing the double whammy of higher heating costs and a sluggish economy, we welcome the news that the state will be kicking $87 million more into its heating assistance program.

Compared to other spending areas, this seems like a bargain that will save lives.

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program – LIHEAP – will be increased to $280 million this winter from the $193 million funding level a year ago.

“We have never had the kind of challenge we face this winter,” acting State Secretary of Aging Mark Hall said during a gathering last week at the Hiram G. Andrews Center in Upper Yoder Township.

“With the combination of circumstances,” Hall said, “I don’t think I’ve seen in 30 years the challenges I am going to see in the next few months.”

While we push for reining in state spending and reducing the state’s ballooning budget, we do applaud making money available for programs to help those in emergency situations.

As some candidates running for state offices have said, there is more than enough wasteful spending across state government to find funding to support a program such as LIHEAP.

Gov. Ed Rendell announced the increased heating assistance and said the program will now cover families and individuals making up to 210 percent of the federal poverty level. Rendell said a family of four making up to $44,443 a year will be eligible for heating assistance this winter.

In addition, LIHEAP minimum grants will triple from $100 to $300 and crisis grants go from $300 to $800. That means customers needing heating fuel can pay the companies’ minimum delivery cost – a stumbling block in the past.

“The LIHEAP news is remarkable,” caseworker Carl Schultz of Catholic Charities said. “We couldn’t have wished for better news.”

Service workers pointed out that while the law now says electricity companies cannot shut off customers for nonpayment during the winter, the same protection does not exist for fuel oil users.

We applaud the LIHEAP increases.

Helping people get through their toughest times is one thing government can and should do.

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Editorials

Readers' Forum 2-9 | Find funds to heal returning soldiers
The article, “Military finds troops ailing; problems create health care backlog,” published Feb. 2 by USA Today, impressed me so profoundly that I just can’t keep myself from bringing it to your attention.

February 9, 2012
Take in a high school play
“Peter Pan” has already done a flyby at Windber Area High School.

February 9, 2012
Readers' Forum 2-8 | Ambulance crew following protocol
In response to the Readers’ Forum letter on Feb. 3 by Molly Comperatore, “Ambulance assoc. bill extravagant, unethical”:

February 8, 2012
Protect young lungs
A recent CDC study concludes that too many kids are breathing others’ smoke in cars.

February 8, 2012
Richard Dreyfuss | Future generations will come out on losing end of budget
As the governor’s state budget undergoes intense scrutiny, there is no shortage of speculation surrounding various fiscal austerity proposals and which departments and programs will likely be the ultimate budgetary “winners and losers.”

February 8, 2012
‘219’ optimism is driven closer toward reality
Making U.S. Route 219 a four-lane highway from Somerset to the Mason-Dixon Line is a crucial project for our entire region.

February 7, 2012
Readers' Forum 2-7 | Country controlled by wackos
You just can’t make this stuff up.

February 7, 2012
‘219’ optimism is driven closer toward reality
Making U.S. Route 219 a four-lane highway from Somerset to the Mason-Dixon Line is a crucial project for our entire region.

February 7, 2012
Mark Critz | National Drug Intelligence Center – how we got here
Last week, the pending closure of Johnstown’s National Drug Intelligence Center became official, as years of fighting to keep it open came to an end.

February 7, 2012 1 Photo
Readers' Forum 2-6 | Sidewalk, security issues plague city
Despite Johnstown’s relatively mild winter, there continues to exist major concerns for senior citizens and disabled residents as we look toward the future and more-seasonably nasty winters.

February 6, 2012
More Editorials Headlines

Editorials

Search Results

Discussion

Helping people in tough times

State commits more to heating assistance

Do you support Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposed state budget for fiscal year 2012-13?

Contact Us