Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder renewed his call for a special legislative session to help Missourians with their utility bills on Monday in St. Joseph.

The public plea came eight days before he’s up for re-election on the November ballot, where his name will appear with Democratic challenger Sam Page, a state representative from Creve Coeur.

The supplemental budget bills that legislators approve early each year by March typically release funds to low-income and elderly Missourians in danger of having their heat turned off.

But that may be too late for households this year with energy prices expected to increase at least 25 percent this winter, Mr. Kinder told about 30 people at the Community Action Partnership of Greater St. Joseph.

“Occasionally this state has fallen short in providing timely help when it’s truly needed,” said Mr. Kinder, who has been calling for action for about 10 days. “... This special session is about acting now.”

Mr. Kinder explained $103 million is available through Missouri’s Utilicare and the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program funds, known as LIHEAP.

Also during a special session, he wants the state to double the $12 million available to weatherize homes. If approved, he said, it would bring another $1 million to Northwest Missouri to help make homes more energy efficient.

Mr. Kinder has asked Mr. Blunt to call the special session shortly after the Nov. 4 election as to allow time to “dilute any political ambitions,” but Democrats aren’t buying it.

“A full-time lieutenant governor would have been advocating for seniors during the legislative session, when it would not have cost taxpayers $100,000 per week and when oil was twice the price it is now,” said Mr. Page’s spokesman, Bret Bender. “This is nothing more than the transparent political stunt of a losing campaign.”

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Ed Wildberger, of St. Joseph, said Mr. Kinder instead should call on the Public Service Commission to enact a moratorium on raising utility fees.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, said he believed most legislators would be receptive to a special session.

The Community Action Partnership of Greater St. Joseph, which distributes the LIHEAP funds to local households, this year served roughly 2,900 households, and more than 3,000 households are expected next year.

“Any minor increase (in utility costs) really causes financial stress for people on a fixed income,” said David Leyland, the St. Joseph program’s executive director.

Alyson E. Raletz can be reached at alysonaletz@npgco.com.