The cost of electricity, natural gas, heating oil and propane has risen inexorably for the past 20 years, but the price tag that is immune to inflation and other price pressures is the one the federal government affixes to the program that helps low-income households pay their heating and air-conditioning bills.

Next year will be no different, because Congress has settled on $1.9 billion for the Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program, along with $300 million for an emergency fund. Political leaders are patting themselves on the back, because that’s a $100 million increase over last year for the basic program and $200 million more for emergencies.

It sounds good, until you consider that the program got $2.1 billion in 1985 and that its purchasing power has dwindled dramatically over the years. The program served 2.5 million more households in 1981 than it did last year.

A total of 13 percent of eligible households nationwide get LIHEAP help. The Spokane Neighborhood Action Program has about $84,000 less to work with in 2004-05 than it did the previous year. Plus, the surge in energy prices and the rising poverty rate have put many people in a bind. Heat or eat?

Last year, there was a bipartisan effort in Congress to fully fund LIHEAP through 2006 at a cost of about $3.4 billion a year, but it got caught in the politics of the massive energy bill. This year, congressional leaders cited the budget deficit, approved a small bump and called it a victory.

It’s ludicrous that in passing a $388 billion spending bill, Congress couldn’t find $1.5 billion more for such a basic need but found plenty for mariachi instruction, motor sports training and other pork-barrel projects.

So, once again the phone lines to community agencies are jammed as the need for help with heating bills outstrips the resources. If you’re one of the frustrated callers, SNAP advises to keep trying through spring. If you’ve gotten a shut-off notice, don’t call the central energy assistance number. Instead, call the nearest SNAP office for emergency aid.

It’s too late for Congress to help this year, but it really needs to examine why it isn’t fully funding LIHEAP. Such a move still wouldn’t cover everyone, but it would help reverse the sad trend of helping a smaller and smaller percentage of needy people each year.