July 1, 2008 Pacheco: We're facing a crisis situation Play video

(NECN: Boston, Mass.) - A Massachusetts state Senate committee is warning the state will need to at least triple its funding for home heating assistance. With heating oil prices up more than 80% since last winter, the Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight says Massachusetts will need to increase energy aid to low-income households from $15 million to at least $50 million.

Committee chairman State Sen. Marc Pacheco, a Democrat of Taunton, says "it's really impacting working families dramatically. We're facing a crisis situation."

Pacheco also criticizes the Bush administration for proposing a 22% cut in federal home heating assistance this winter.

"We shouldn't be cutting energy assistance for the needy and for the working poor at a time when home heating oil costs are skyrocketing like they've never done before," says Pacheco.