Citgo suspends low-income heating oil program

BOSTON (AP) - An oil company owned by the Venezuelan government is stopping its shipments of heating oil for poor families in the United States.

By: Associated Press | WNCT
Published: January 06, 2009

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BOSTON (AP) - An oil company owned by the Venezuelan government is stopping its shipments of heating oil for poor families in the United States.

That word comes from the non-profit organization that distributes the fuel.

It says Citgo, a Venezuelan subsidiary based in Texas, is citing the falling price of oil, and the world's economic crisis.

Under the program, Venezuela gave fuel to 400,000 households in 23 states through a charity run by Joseph Kennedy. He's the eldest son of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy.

It sent 100 gallons of free oil a year to eligible households.

But critics said it was just a ploy by Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez to undermine the Bush administration.

Chavez, who's a socialist, is a staunch critic of President Bush and has called him "the devil."

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