Senators ask Obama to spare energy assistance

Amid the big fiscal cliff stare-down, U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken are asking the Obama administration to increase funding to help low income folks in places like Minnesota make their homes more energy efficient. In a letter to President Obama, the two Minnesota Democrats pressed for the Weatherization Assistance and State Energy Programs, arguing that they help low-income families save money by improving the energy efficiency of their homes. The letter was also signed by 35 Senate colleagues. The total amount involved, some $260 million for both programs in the 2014 budget, amounts to nibbling at the edges in terms of big Washington budget battles. But advocating for energy assistance is a mainstay of constituent service in Minnesota, especially in December.