<html><div style='background-color:'><P><BR>OSN:</P>
<P>FYI...Low Income Home Energy Assitance Program receives additional funds. Good news for those eligible for the assistance.<BR></P>Thanks,<BR><BR><BR>
<DIV>
<P>Seneca Scott</P>
<P>3271 E. 2nd St.</P>
<P>Tulsa, OK 74104</P>
<P>OKC 405-474-0324</P>
<P>Tulsa 918-576-9111</P>
<P><STRONG><FONT size=6><FONT color=#314857><SPAN class=twstorytextheadline>Heating help for needy boosted </SPAN><BR></FONT></FONT></STRONG><FONT color=#314857><SPAN class=twstorysynop>By MARIE PRICE World Capitol Bureau </SPAN><BR><SPAN class=twstorysynop>12/14/2005 </SPAN><BR><BR></FONT><A href="http://www.tulsaworld.com/TWPDFs/2005/Final/W_121405_A_13.PDF"><SPAN class=twstorysynop><FONT color=#314857>View in Print (PDF) Format</FONT></SPAN><FONT color=#444547> </FONT></A><BR><SPAN class=twstorytext><BR></P>
<P><FONT color=#444547></FONT>
<H3>A pact by the governor and legislative leaders asks DHS to transfer $5 million. </H3>
<P>OKLAHOMA CITY -- An additional $5 million will be available to help low-income Oklahomans pay higher heating bills expected this winter under an agreement announced Tuesday by Gov. Brad Henry and legislative leaders. </P>
<P></P>
<P>"With heating bills on the increase, this is going to be a very tough winter for many Oklahoma families, and we want to do everything we can to assist them," Henry said. "This additional funding won't meet all of the needs, but it is a step in the right direction." </P>
<P>Henry, Senate President Pro Tem Mike Morgan and House Speaker Todd Hiett agreed to add at least $5 million in state funds to about $8 million in federal funding in the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. </P>
<P>The program is administered by the state Department of Human Services. </P>
<P>"Higher energy prices are squeezing family budgets, forcing many Oklahomans who work hard and play by the rules to choose between buying groceries and heating their homes," said Morgan, D-Stillwater. "The responsible thing for us to do as state leaders is to offer these deserving families a hand up." </P>
<P>Some predictions estimate that natural gas prices may spike 50 percent over the next few months. If prices rise higher than projected, even more state funding will be provided under the leadership accord. </P>
<P>"The bipartisan agreement helps the neediest in Oklahoma without expanding government, and it ensures a businesslike approach on the issue," said Hiett, R-Kellyville. </P>
<P>To deliver the expanded LIHEAP funds quickly, the three leaders are asking DHS to transfer existing agency funds into the program, with the understanding that these shifted funds will be replaced in the department's budget. </P>
<P>The three state leaders will also push for more federal LIHEAP funding in the weeks to come. </P>
<P>Last week, the Commission for Human Services authorized Director Howard Hendrick to use up to $15 million in agency funds to boost LIHEAP funding for the winter, contingent upon assurance that the funds would be replaced by appropriations. </P>
<P>Dustin Pyeatt, DHS spokesman, said agency officials have not yet decided how to respond to the leadership agreement and meet remaining home heating needs. </P>
<P>He said DHS would continue to take applications through Wednesday for certain. </P>
<P>Pyeatt said the agency has processed about 69,000 LIHEAP authorizations totaling about $6.2 million at last count. </P>
<P>Steven Dow, executive director of the Community Action Project of Tulsa County, said the average 2004 LIHEAP payment was about $85. </P>
<P>To pay the same percentage of higher bills this winter for those 90,950 recipients would require $210, Dow said. </P>
<P>The $5 million to which state leaders have agreed would fund about $55 of that gap, he added. </P>
<P>"We welcome the idea that the leadership may be open to expanding the amount," Dow said. </P>
<P>Current maximum monthly income guidelines for the program range from $878 for one person to $2,372 for a family of six. </P>
<P>Also on Tuesday, House leaders said they have asked energy companies and faith-based groups to help fund winter heating assistance. </P>
<P>Rep. Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, House appropriations chairman, said Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. and American Electric Power-Public Service Company of Oklahoma each pledged $100,000, and Oklahoma Natural Gas Co. pledged to match $167,000 in faith-based contributions. </P>
<P>
<HR>
<P></P>
<P><B>Marie Price (405) 528-2465 </B><BR><A href="mailto:marie.price@tulsaworld.com"><FONT color=#444547>marie.price@tulsaworld.com</FONT></A> </P>
<P></P>
<P></SPAN><BR><BR><A href="http://www.tulsaworld.com/TWPDFs/2005/Final/W_121405_A_13.PDF"><FONT size=2><SPAN class=twstorysynop>View in Print (PDF) Format</SPAN><FONT color=#444547> </FONT></FONT></A></P>
<P><A href="javascript:history.go(-1)"><FONT color=#444547 size=2><IMG src="http://www.tulsaworld.com/worldimages/back.gif" border=0></FONT></A><BR><A class=twnav-reg href="http://www.tulsaworld.com/aboutus/AboutusONLINE.asp#copy"><FONT color=#444547>Copyright</FONT></A> <SPAN class=twnav-reg><FONT color=#444547>© <B>2005</B>, World Publishing Co. All rights reserved. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P> </P></DIV></div></html>