LIHEAP in the Republican Debates

I have been watching the Presidential debates, including yesterday’s that Meet the Press hosted in New Hampshire. It found it interesting that a reporter from the Union Leader, a conservative newspaper in New Hampshire, asked about LIHEAP. That tells you how much the LIHEAP program resonates with people, particularly in New England. I was disappointed though that, with the exception of Newt Gingrich, none of the candidates appear to know about the program. Gingrich referred to the program by name, obviously already familiar with it. The other candidates answered with comments about energy self sufficiency and broad energy policies. It was clear they were unfamiliar with the program. Having this question raised in the debates was helpful nonetheless.

I believe we need to think about how to interject Weatherization in the Presidential debate arena as well as LIHEAP. During the Presidential election season in 2008, Weatherization became a hot topic. Hillary Clinton was the first to discuss it during primary debates. Her office called NCAF for background information on the program. Then Obama, Richardson and Edwards mentioned Weatherization as a funding priority. But the old arguments for Weatherization are no longer working. This is NCAF’s number one challenge going into the 2012 elections. We have started talking with people around town about crafting newer more persuasive arguments about Weatherization. I think it is going to take discussing the program in the presidential debate arena to get it back onto the radar screens of Members in a positive way.