Outrage! That's what went through my mind when I read of Avista's proposal to increase electricity rates by a whopping 14 percent.

Foreclosures are at an all-time high, Coeur d'Alene has hundreds of homes sitting vacant. Coeur d'Alene has issued a mere l04 residential and commercial building permits so far this year. That is the lowest number of permits in 20 years.

When was the last time you saw an Interstate Concrete truck rumbling down Ramsey road? I miss them. When did you last see a logging truck traveling to the weigh station on old Highway l0? You didn't, because the lumber company is closed.

It is estimated that Kootenai County now has l,200 homeless people. Coeur d'Alene alone has l50 people living in tents, and add to that, those people living in cars, and those with nothing to put over their heads. Those people don't have to worry about Avista shut off notices, because they have no lights to turn on. Many people who are in this situation used to have jobs, this is not about the many people that want to work.

Scott Morris, Avista CEO, had his compensation and other compensation increased by an incredible $400,000 this year, to the sum of $3 million per year. Mr. Morris, the CEO of a monopoly, thus earns approximately $250,000 per month.

Avista senior vice president Mark Thies earns with his other compensation, a total of $83l,234 annually, an increase from $366,646. Mr. Thies thus earns $67,000 per month.

Corporate secretary (vp) Karen Feltes earns with her other compensation $759,007, an increase from $696,159. Karen thus earns a mere $58,000 per month. How many of your friends earn $58,000 for the entire year? I challenge Karen to make public, customer shut off statistics over the last couple of years.

Avista then has the nerve to tell us that some of its compensation doesn't come out of customer rates, but from shareholder dollars. Are we that stupid? Where do you think the shareholder dollars came from?

Avista has the luxury of having no other competition. If I were the only attorney in town, would it seem fair for me to increase my fees 14 percent in this economic climate?

This is the worst recession that I have seen in my lifetime. I have seen many of my hard-working friends, who have excellent skills, lose their jobs, lose their homes, or have their power turned off.

I ask the question, if I am earning $250,000 per month as Mr. Morris does, and I propose a 14 percent rate increase in this recession, do I have empathy for the family that is living in their car or in a tent, or is trying to pay their power bill? Do I understand that it might be difficult for them to look prepared for a job interview, when they can't shower, haven't eaten, and have no address?

A 14 percent increase will only worsen the incredibly difficult situation that people in this state are experiencing.

As we face these difficult times, I am reminded of the bible passage: "He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God." Proverbs 14:31.

Without your input, this increase will happen. Send your comments to [email protected]

Steve Bell is a Coeur d'Alene resident.