High Energy Costs Hearing on 11/21 at Albert Lea

11/20/2005

Dear Editor,

The Senate Jobs, Energy & Community Development Committee will hold a public hearing in Albert Lea on Monday, November 21, at 1:00 PM, on “the High Cost of Heating Fuels this Winter.”

The meeting will be held at Riverland Community College, in Lecture Hall 124 in the main building.  If you want to attend, park in the guest/visitor lot or the student lot.  Don’t park in the staff/faculty lot as you might get a ticket.

Senator Ellen Anderson, chair of the committee, held a hearing in Alexandria November 15 and one at the Capitol November 17. At each meeting, we heard about the difficulty Minnesotans will face keeping up with their heating bills this winter.  Federal funding for low income bill paying assistance is barely even with last winter so far.  We might get more, but it’s not likely that it will be enough to cover the increased cost.  Senator Anderson has called for a special session so that the state can do more in this area as well.  So far, the Governor has not committed.

At the hearings, another theme has developed as well.  Schools, colleges, universities, nursing homes, public housing and other institutions are also facing tough times this winter.  We need to figure out what the state can do to assist in these areas too.

- Don Jorovsky SD 50/CD 4

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