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Venezuela Yanks Free Fuel for Poor Americans

Plunging price of oil forces Chavez to freeze fuel aid program

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 6, 2009 3:07 AM CST

(Newser) – Venezuela has halted its gifts of free fuel to America's poor, the New York Times reports. The controversial foreign aid project supplied heating oil to 200,000 low-income households in 23 states and on Indian reservations, but the plunge in the price of oil has hit Venezuela hard and President Hugo Chavez is slashing his budget.

Chavez's foreign aid program has long irritated the Bush administration but was welcomed by many anti-poverty groups, which are now scrambling to keep their clients from being left out in the cold. "I was depending on that oil to help our clients," said the chief of a heating assistance program for the Northern Cheyenne in Montana. "It will be hard on them."

Citizens Energy Corporation Chairman Joseph P. Kennedy II announces that Citgo has suspended its free heating oil program for the poor at a news conference in Boston yesterday.
Citizens Energy Corporation Chairman Joseph P. Kennedy II announces that Citgo has suspended its free heating oil program for the poor at a news conference in Boston yesterday.   (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, right, and Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin, left,  watch the drilling of the first deepwater gas well by Russia's state-run gas company Gazprom.
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, right, and Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin, left, watch the drilling of the first deepwater gas well by Russia's state-run gas company Gazprom.   (AP Photo/Miraflores Press Office)
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez speaks during a news conference at the summit of Latin American and Caribbean leaders in Costa do Sauipe, Brazil, last month.
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez speaks during a news conference at the summit of Latin American and Caribbean leaders in Costa do Sauipe, Brazil, last month.   (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez delivers a speech during a ceremony in Caracas late last year.
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez delivers a speech during a ceremony in Caracas late last year.   (AP Photo/Miraflores Press Office)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
Shannonals
Jan 8, 2009 4:02 AM CST
No it isn't, but you will be judged one day, just by no man
Vostok
Jan 6, 2009 3:34 AM CST
In America, if you charge poor people for basic goods for personal profit, thats fine and acceptable and desirable. But if you're a third world nation and you stop giving FREE goods to poor people in First World nations just to support your own populous, thats worthy of mockery and insults. What a world we live in...

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