Um, Guys?

The nation deserves a proper debate in Congress about the growing energy crisis...But you'd be hardpressed [sic] to find many real proposals to deal with high gasoline and high heating oil prices in Congress during this election year.

--Kennebec Journal, July 29

Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southampton) used a news conference in Riverhead yesterday to promote a bill that would give tax credits to families who are expected to struggle this winter to pay their heating bills.

The bill would give a $1,000 tax credit to individuals and $2,000 tax credit to families - an earning cap of $100,000 per person would apply - to help pay for rising heating costs. The bill also calls for loans of up to $5,000 per household at 1 percent interest to pay for energy-saving improvements.

The bill, the Middle Class Home Heating Relief Act, was introduced in the House of Representatives on Thursday by Rep. Tom Allen (D-Maine).

--Newsday, July 29

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