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Corman Urges Governor to Use Rainy Day Funds to
Boost LIHEAP Funding
HARRISBURG -- Concerned
that rapidly rising home fuel prices could put poor families at risk this
winter, Senator Jake Corman (R-Centre) today urged the Rendell Administration to
tap reserves in the state’s “Rainy Day Fund” to increase funding for the Low
Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) by 40 percent.
In a letter to the Governor, Corman urged the
governor to request the adoption of legislation releasing the Budget
Stabilization Reserve Funds. Such an action requires a two-thirds vote of the
General Assembly when the Governor has presented a request and a proposal to
address an emergency involving the health, safety or welfare of the residents of
the Commonwealth
“With the recent weather-related catastrophes that
have recently hit the United States and the predicted increases in the price of
home heating energies, predominately home heating oil and natural gas, the
current federal funding will produce much less assistance than was anticipated.
I believe the forecasted increases in home heating energies is an emergency that
affects the health, safety and welfare of many Pennsylvanians and I look forward
to working with your office to address this looming crisis,” Corman wrote in his
letter to the Governor.
Corman noted that Pennsylvania has $21 million less
in LIHEAP funding this year than it had in 2004-2005, meaning that it can serve
approximately 25,000 fewer low-income households. Fewer dollars, combined with
rising energy costs could put many families at risk, unless additional funding
is approved.
During the 2004-05 winter, 340,447 Pennsylvania
households received LIHEAP cash assistance, including 2,157 in Centre County,
2,096 in Mifflin County, 653 in Juniata County, 1,108 in Perry County and 757 in
Union County.
During testimony today before the Senate Consumer
Protection and Professional Licensure Committee, Sen. Corman learned that
Pennsylvanian’s will see a 40% increase in home heating costs this winter.
“We must be proactive and supplement federal LIHEAP
funding before the crisis occurs,” Corman said. “Acting too late does little to
help those families who won’t qualify for LIHEAP assistance if we do nothing.”
Corman’s letter to the
Governor
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