PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Members of the Maine congressional delegation are opposed to a plan from President Donald Trump to divert millions of dollars in heating assistance to the country’s response to coronavirus.
The president wants to use $37 million from the heating assistance program, which helps low-income households. Independent Sen. Angus King told the Portland Press Herald on Thursday the move is “unconscionable.”
Republican Sen. Susan Collins also said she opposes the move. She tweeted that the need to fund coronavirus response programs is critical, but doing so at the expense of heating assistance isn’t a fair approach.
Maine’s two Democratic U.S. representatives, Jared Golden and Chellie Pingree, also came out against the move.
Trump has previously attempted to get rid of the heating program, called Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program or LIHEAP, completely.
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