ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) - Gov. David Paterson says the winter
heating season might be easier than expected for low- and
moderate-income New Yorkers.

Paterson says state and federal funding added to the home
heating aid program along with a drop in fuel prices should be
enough to help New Yorkers in the program pay their heating bills.

Rising unemployment and recession, however, might put further
strain on the funding.

Paterson added $68 million in September to the program and the
federal government recently added another $488 million for New
York.

When fuel prices were spiking this summer, Assembly Speaker
Sheldon Silver said as much as $800 million would be needed to keep
New Yorkers from choosing between heat and food.

On the Net:
http://www.otda.state.ny.us/main/heap/

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)