Sen. James Rhoades (R-Schuylkill) announced this week he will introduce Senate Bill 2148, the Home Heating Rebate Program, so seniors citizens can receive additional state assistance to offset the skyrocketing costs of home heating fuel.

With the way that the price of home heating fuel is rising, thousands of our senior citizens need help- right now," said Sen. Rhoades. "My legislation will give it to them."

The legislation will provide senior citizens who are eligible for the Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program with home heating fuel rebates. Senior citizens would apply for a rebate to be used to offset the cost of home heating fuels. The amount of the rebates will be based on the availability of unused funds remaining in the Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program.

According to Sen. Rhoades, over $50 million is available right now.

"These funds are available now. They are supposed to be used for our senior citizens. So, we should use these funds for something that many of our senior citizens desperately need: help with paying their home heating bills," said Sen. Rhoades.

In 2006, The General Assembly doubled the size of the Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program, by increasing payments $131 million and adding 281,000 new participants. However, over $50 million remains in the PTRR program that were not expended on claims this year. Sen. Rhoades' legislation simply uses any remaining funds for the home heating rebate program.

Last week, Sen. Rhoades introduced legislation that would mandate an immediate price freeze on all light fuel oil, which includes oil used for domestic heating. The restriction would expire at the end of the winter season on April 1, 2008. In addition, civil fines of up to $1,000 maybe imposed for each violation of the law.

"The price of oil is hitting record highs and energy prices are continuing to rise," said Sen. Rhoades. "This bill will give our senior citizens the help they need - right now.

"For me, the question isn't why we should do this. The question is why we shouldn't," said Sen. Rhoades. "So long as I am a Senator, I don't want a single senior citizen to be left out in the cold."

1/18/2008