Watch Out, Warm State Residents
Taxpayers in warm states, like Florida and Arizona would end up subsidizing much of the cost of winter home heating for residents of cold-winter states under a bill just introduced by US Congressman Paul Hodes, from the very cold state of New Hampshire.
Rep. Hodes bill, Heating Energy Assistance Tax Credit Act of 2009 (HR 3958), would provide a potential 100-percent tax credit -- up to $1,000 for and individual or $2,000 for a couple -- as a reimbursement for their home heating expenses.
While Hodes' bill does impose income caps, even couples making as much as $200,000 per year would be eligible for a $500 tax credit for home heating costs.
According to Rep. Hodes, the Department of Energy estimated that households in the cold Northeast states will pay an average of $1,135 for natural gas, $1,892 for heating oil, $1,455 for electric heat and $2,236 for propane from October 2009 through March of 2010. However, the Energy Department also projects that heating costs nationwide for the same October thru March winter period will actually be 8 percent lower than last year, averaging $960 per household.
"Last year, thousands of Granite Staters (New Hampshire residents) struggled to keep up with their heating bills during a cold winter and a difficult economy," said Rep. Hodes in a press release. "This legislation will ease the financial strain for working families who are juggling heating bills, a mortgage, and rising health care costs. The first snow has already fallen in New Hampshire and relief for working families cannot wait."
Also See: The End of Oil?
Comments
That’s fine. We will just suggest a bill that asks cold state residents to subsidize our air conditioning bills.
Lovin’ AZ Right Now
Seriously…this is socialism. I don’t want taxpayers to pay for my habits, and I don’t want to pay for other people’s habits. (Whether or not they are necessary.) It sounds harsh to say it, but it used to be sink or swim. If you couldn’t afford heating, you moved south or froze.
Independence is a sign of strength and character. When you give up on it, even if it benefits you, you lose a piece of your self respect. Anyhow, if those NH folks don’t like the cold, there’s tons of open space here in AZ!
I too hail from a warm state “Texas”, I also request that I be paid for my summer bills.
People who choose to live in frigid parts of the country usually benefit with cheaper costs of living ie: housing.
Nobody should be asked to subsidize their neighbor’s heating or cooling costs. These state’s should increase their government backed assistance programs.