Missouri Governor Blunt Applauds House Passage of Energy Assistance for Missouri Families

January 23, 2008 -- JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Governor Matt Blunt today applauded the Missouri House of Representatives for supporting his call to fully fund the program that helps low-income Missourians pay for their home heating costs.

“I am pleased the House has responded quickly to provide energy assistance to Missouri families,” Gov. Blunt said. “I especially appreciate the leadership of Budget Chairman Allen Icet who sponsored this initiative. Utilicare is an important program that helps families in need and I urge the full General Assembly to pass this vital funding for vulnerable Missourians.”

Gov. Blunt recommended and the House overwhelmingly passed, 152-0, a $6.4 million supplemental appropriation bill for Utilicare, House Bill 2015, to ensure funding would be available this year to help Missourians with their winter heating bills.

Last year Blunt, President Pro Tem Michael R. Gibbons and House Speaker Rod Jetton secured a $6.3 million emergency supplemental, fully funding Utilicare and providing support to over 12,000 low-income households.

Missouri’s Utilicare program was created in 1979 to help Missourians with winter heating costs but had not received any funding since 2001. Gov. Blunt changed that and House Bill 2015 would again fully fund this energy assistance program for those who need it the most for the third year in a row.

Source: Missouri Governor

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