The chief of Iowa’s energy assistance bureau says he needs more money to help low-income Iowans who can’t pay their heating bills. Last week, the legislature provided an additional 10-millon dollars for the low-income energy assistance program, but Energy Assistance Bureau chief Jerry McKim told ’em he needed at least 20-million.McKim says 80-thousand Iowans have qualified to get help. He says it’s not a question of giving a benefit to those who qualified, it’s a question of whether that benefit is adequate.McKim says low-income people spend a higher-percentage of their income on heat, and that’s why they need help when heating costs go through the roof.McKim briefed lawmakers today. Republicans, however, say the money they provided is adequate.
