AP--"Edwards Offers Immediate, Future Fixes for High Heating Oil Costs" LINK

[Blackhatjack]

Edwards is on the mark here. Immediate relief is needed to avert a disaster for the poor.

And his plan to have the DOJ "to investigate the massive mergers of oil companies in recent decades and modernizing antitrust laws to target oil and gas companies that take unilateral action to withhold supplies in order to raise prices." is exactly the way to get to the heart of this problem.

This is a plan ALL DEMOCRATS should get behind.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/mochila.php?articleId=10634280&channelId=76&buyerId=talkingpointsmemo_com400732&buid=86

HOLLY RAMER
AP News
Nov 24, 2007 21:16 EST

"Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards will outline a plan Sunday to provide immediate relief to families struggling with high heating oil bills and to ensure affordable prices in the future. Noting that home heating oil prices in New Hampshire have surpassed $3 a gallon, the former North Carolina senator is calling on Congress to release some of the nation's home heating oil and crude oil reserves as a way to bring down prices by increasing supply. He also is urging Congress to fully fund the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, according to a copy of his plan provided to The Associated Press."

"Earlier this month, President Bush vetoed a Democratic health and education spending bill that included $2.4 billion for heating subsidies for the poor, $480 million more than Bush requested.
"American families are facing skyrocketing home heating oil and gasoline prices, while big oil companies earn massive profits," Edwards said in remarks prepared for delivery Sunday afternoon in Rochester. "We need to stand up to the oil companies, increase the use of renewable energy and create affordable choices for regular families."

"Edwards said he would double the budget of a program that helps people weatherize their homes to $500 million a year. Upgrading home furnaces, ducts, windows and insulation can cut energy bills by about 30 percent, he said, but the program reaches only about 100,000 of the 28 million homes that could be eligible. He also proposes helping states and nonprofit groups administer low- or no-interest emergency loans to people struggling to pay their heating bills."

"His plan for longer-term relief from high home heating prices involves asking the Justice Department to investigate the massive mergers of oil companies in recent decades and modernizing antitrust laws to target oil and gas companies that take unilateral action to withhold supplies in order to raise prices. Under current law, companies can't be charged for those actions unless they are working with other companies, Edwards said. Edwards also proposes repealing tax breaks for the oil industry and reinvesting the savings in renewable energy projects."