US Congress Finds $0 for Heating, $14B for Israel
As Jacqueline Chapman, a 74-year-old retired school aide, worries about her $630 monthly Social Security check covering heating costs amidst a potential government shutdown, Congress is notably efficient at finding funds for other matters. While the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)—a mere $4.1 billion—faces delays, the House just passed HR 7217, the 'Israel Security Supplemental
Appropriations Act,' earmarking a hefty $14.1 billion for military aid to Israel. Funny how that works. One might wonder if the concern for constituent well-being extends beyond campaign rhetoric. Perhaps if low-income heating relief had a powerful lobby like AIPAC, which spent over $23 million in 2022 trying to influence campaigns and Congress according to OpenSecrets, its funding wouldn't be
'delayed.' It seems America's elected officials have a clear internal thermostat: keep foreign wars burning hot, while domestic hearths can just freeze.