April 4, 2008
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 Anna Gustafson
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Senate Update
by
Senator James J. Rhoades

The skyrocketing cost of fuel is hurting households across the country, and these costs show no signs of going down. Over the past few weeks, I have taken a number of steps to address rising fuel costs. This week, I took action again by sponsoring a resolution to urge Congress to require greater transparency in the energy commodities market that is driving these cost increases.

Senate Resolution 267 calls on Congress to take action on legislation that would provide more access to information on the markets that control the price of crude oil and other energy sources. My resolution urges Congress to control the price of fuel at the source – the suppliers. The U.S. Senate has already approved legislation that would require greater transparency in energy commodities markets, but the bill is currently stalled in a Senate-House conference committee.

I wish that we had the opportunity to provide this transparency on the state level. Unfortunately, controlling price increases from suppliers is a federal issue, so the Pennsylvania General Assembly has no jurisdiction on this issue. We must wait for Congress to take action, and I am hopeful that my resolution will remind Congress of their responsibility to deal with this impending crisis for many households not only in Pennsylvania, but across the nation.

In addition to this resolution, I have introduced legislation to freeze fuel prices in Pennsylvania and provide $84 million in home heating rebates to senior citizens and needy Pennsylvanians. I also introduced a resolution urging Congress to enact price controls at the federal level.

The rising cost of fuel is rapidly becoming a national crisis and is one factor that may be contributing to the recent economic uneasiness across the country. I hope that this resolution will remind Congress of their responsibility to help citizens in their everyday lives, and I trust that the Senate-House conference committee will take swift action to bring greater transparency in energy markets.

Senator Rhoades represents the 29th Senatorial District, which includes all of Schuylkill County and parts of Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe and Northampton Counties.