LIHEAP WINDFALL UPDATE

An update on conservative Republicans jumping on Big Oil about their record profits find Chuck Grassley playing the shame game.

From the Washington Post, Nov. 3.

Oil Firms Urged to Back Energy Aid for the Poor

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) said he sent letters to the associations representing big oil companies to "embarrass" them into contributing to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

"The oil companies ought to contribute something to LIHEAP with the profits that they have," he told reporters. In the letters, Grassley said that the growth in industry profits are averaging from 50 percent to more than 200 percent. He said some companies have even amassed quarterly profits of nearly $10 billion. He reiterated that they have a responsibility to use a portion of these profits to help low-income Americans.

Last year, the program spent $2.2 billion to help poor and elderly Americans pay their winter heating bills, and Democrats say the fund should be doubled for this winter.

Senate Democrats last week made a similar request of oil companies.