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Thursday, March 09, 2006
Smilin' Norm: LIHEAP Liar
LIHEAP funding has (finally!) passed the Senate. This is good news for millions of Americans struggling to pay to heat their homes. Sen. Smilin' Norm Coleman (R-MN) gives us this press release:
Coleman is a consistent supporter of increased funding for LIHEAP. In December, Senators Coleman, Snowe, and Collins successfully secured a commitment from Senate Leadership to move additional LIHEAP funding forward in the Senate. That commitment culminated in the Senate vote today to provide the additional energy assistance.
"When Americans face desperate situations, the Senate has a long tradition of ignoring partisan and regional divisions to produce relief -- we come together as citizens of the same Nation, with a spirit of cooperation," Coleman said on the Senate floor. "With the passage of $1 billion more in LIHEAP funding, the Senate has again proven that it can respond to real needs across the country. I’ve seen the faces of those who need this assistance, and for those working to get back on their feet, the high heating prices they are enduring this winter of are a cruel burden. I am proud to say that today my colleagues offered a helping hand to meet the needs of those who need it most."
Coleman is flat out lying about the commitment. Well, if he's not lying now, he was lying in his January 6 press release:
Last month, Coleman, along with Senators Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME), and Susan Collins (R-ME) obtained a commitment from Senate leadership for a separate vote on an emergency supplemental bill to provide $2 billion in additional funding for LIHEAP, early this year.
On January 6, Coleman claimed he secured a commitment to vote on $2 billion in addition LIHEAP funding. On March 7, Coleman claims the commitment was to move funding forward. Here's more from Coleman in January:
The commitment we received ensures that an emergency supplemental bill to provide $2 billion additional funding for LIHEAP will receive an up or down vote.
Coleman said the commitment was for $2 billion. The vote was for $1 billion. Coleman said the commitment was for additional funding. The vote was for an advance from next year's funding, so there are no additional dollars (see footnote) going toward LIHEAP. Coleman said the commitment was for an up or down vote. Tom Coburn blocked the vote until this watered-down, half-assed compromise was reached. The $2 billion didn't receive an up or down vote.
Nothing Coleman was promised came true. So Coleman has to lie about the promise. Pathetic.
Footnote: Is it an addition? The CBO (PDF) says no:
S. 2273 would amend section 9001of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 by making the $1.0 billion appropriated for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) available in 2006 rather than 2007. The bill would increase direct spending in 2006 by $750 million, but have no net budgetary effect over the 2006-2009 period as a whole.
