Projo Politics Blog

Rhode Islanders may be settled into the dog days of August, but Governor Carcieri says he's looking ahead to winter.

The governor's office yesterday released a statement saying Carcieri has joined other Northeast governors in requesting that President Bush increase the money available for home heating assistance through the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Specifically, Carcieri and others want federal authorities to release the remaining $120 million in contingency funds for the program.

The only problem with yesterday's statement from Smith Hill: it came a month late. The governors resolved to request the boost at a joint meeting in Boston early last month. The news was reported in the next day's paper.

So why the delay? It seems the actual letter signed by eight Northeast governors including Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, New York's David Paterson and New Jersey's Jon Corzine was not sent to Washington, D.C. until Tuesday.

"As we look forward to the cold weather months and to developing remedies to the negative impact of skyrocketing energy costs for all Rhode Islanders, LIHEAP funding is one of the important elements of addressing energy affordability," Carcieri said in his statement yesteday.

"Projections indicate that Rhode Island residents will be facing an unprecedented energy crisis this winter impacting families from across the economic spectrum, including, for the first time, many middle class families. I urge the President to release LIHEAP funds, allowing the Northeast states to help [residents] stay warm this winter."

 Tags  Bush Carcieri home heating LIHEAP Northeast governors

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