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(79 seconds)
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(OPEN):
SENIOR-CITIZENS AND RETIREES ARE ESPECIALLY WORRIED ABOUT THE
E-P-A'S PROPOSED NEW REGULATIONS ON COAL-POWERED ELECTRICITY.
IN FACT, A RECENT "HARRIS"-POLL FOUND THAT--AT
88-PERCENT--THEY'RE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE REGULATIONS CAUSING HIGHER
ENERGY-BILLS THAN ANY OTHER GROUP. AMONG THOSE WHO SHARE THESE
WORRIES IS DAN WEBER--THE PRESIDENT OF THE
"ASSOCIATION OF MATURE AMERICAN CITIZENS"...
(WEBER):
"PRESIDENT
OBAMA'S PLAN IS TO REPLACE COAL-POWERED ELECTRICITY WITH COSTLIER
ENERGY-SOURCES; EVEN HE ADMITS THAT HIGHER UTILITY-BILLS ARE ON THE WAY,
FOR ALL AMERICANS. HIS PLAN IGNORES ADVANCES IN POWER-PLANT
TECHNOLOGIES THAT MAKE NEW PLANTS 90-PERCENT CLEANER--AND ELIMINATE THE
NEED FOR HIS COSTLY PROPOSED-REGULATIONS. AND, THE HIGHER COSTS
WON'T BE BORNE EQUALLY; SENIORS ON FIXED INCOMES, AND LOW-INCOME
FAMILIES, WILL BE HIT THE HARDEST. THAT'S BECAUSE THEY HAVE LESS
INCOME TO SPEND ON ESSENTIAL UTILITIES--LIKE HEATING AND COOLING THEIR
HOMES. HIGHER UTILITY-BILLS WILL LEAVE MANY WITH FEWER DOLLARS FOR
OTHER CRITICAL NEEDS--FROM GROCERIES TO HEALTHCARE. AFFLUENT
FAMILIES CAN ABSORB HIGHER UTILITY-BILLS; MANY ELDERLY FOLKS CAN'T.
WE SHOULDN'T BURDEN THOSE WHO ARE LEAST ABLE TO PAY--ESPECIALLY NOT FOR
THIS ENERGY-PLAN."
(CLOSE):
THE POLL WAS COMMISSIONED EARLIER THIS YEAR, BY THE "NATIONAL MINING
ASSOCIATION".
