MONTPELIER, Vt. -
The Vermont Emergency board unanimously approved an 8.8 million dollar increase in LIHEAP funding this winter.
The move is in response to federal reductions in low income assistance and the end of stimulus dollars to the LIHEAP fund. The money will come out of money the legislature allocated to cover federal cuts, the home weatherization trust fund and corrections. Governor Peter Shumlin said as fuel prices go up assistance for cold weather states is a necessity.
"I think we all agree, regardless of politics or party, we're not going to let Vermonters freeze in their homes or make terrible choices between medicine, food, shelter or heat," Gov. Shumlin said.
Few cold weather states are fighting for extra LIHEAP dollars, Shumlin said, that's because most have a cheaper option to lean on, like natural gas. He plans to ask the Vermont delegation to request money from the feds for state's like Vermont which lack a cheap option.
