UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) -  With home heating oil costs having risen fifty percent over last year according to the New York Energy Research Development Authority, some legislators are pushing for the Home Heating act of 2008 (A.11590).

Assembly Energy Committee Chair Kevin Cahill (D 101st District) and Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito (D 116th District) discussed the matter at a morning news conference.

They are urging Governor David Paterson to call a special legislative session so that legislators can review the bill, which passed through the Assembly in June.

The bill would amend the state tax law and tax large oil companies 2% on gross receipts.

It would also force oil companies to pay a windfall recapture tax of 4% times the excess of the average retail sales of motor fuel over two dollars.

Finally, the bill would prohibit oil companies from passing additional costs to consumers.

September 12th, Governor David Paterson added $49 million dollars for low-income energy efficiency programs in addition to calling for federal help.

Cahill says more must be done, "he has bought us some time but the heating season now that it has begun and the senate hasn't acted, we now have a few more weeks to act before somebody suffers."

State Senator Joe Griffo, a Republican, had this to say in response:

"Millions of New York State families are facing difficult times, we want to help as many of them as we can that are facing this issue, there is no way you want people to have to make choices between essentials or heating your home."