Despite both President Barack Obama's and Senator John McCain’s influence and desire to cut the program, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) High Cost Energy Program stayed in the agriculture appropriations bill being debated in the Senate this week.According to Andrew Taylor’s story for the Associated Press, the $18 million discretionary High Energy Cost Program provides funding for electricity generation projects in rural or under-served areas of the country. President Obama had included the program in his list of 75 discretionary programs the administration wanted to see cut from the government dole. Senator McCain also opposed the program and backed the administration in its desire to cut it from the federal budget. In the end the will of the Senate won out as the program received a 55-41 vote in favor of keeping it operating.
The administration claims the program is duplicative of another program that does not cost the taxpayer’s any money. They also pointed out the program has an excess of $20 million yet to be allocated. In defense of the program, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski noted that grants only go to areas where the costs of electricity is roughly three times greater than the national average. The agriculture appropriations bill is on track to pass the Senate this week. To read Taylor’s article click here.
Posted: 08/04/09
