Legislators visiting local senior sites

REVERE – Local seniors concerned about how to pay for their prescription drugs and heating oil get a chance today to lob questions at state Elder Affairs Secretary Michael Festa.The former Wakefield legislator is visiting the Rossetti/Cowan Senior Center from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. with local legislators Kathi-Anne Reinstein and Robert DeLeo and Sens. Anthony Galluccio and Anthony Petrucelli. They will also visit the Jack Satter House with Festa from 2-3:30 p.m.Reinstein, a leader in the Massachusetts House on senior affairs, said Festa is prepared to answer questions about housing, health care costs and other elder concerns.Reinstein and her colleagues want to show Festa the variety of services offered at Rossetti, including tax clinics for seniors scheduled to run each Wednesday morning through April 9.The clinics are aimed at providing advice on income tax concerns and on deductions or tax credits for property tax and water and sewer bills. State law allows renters or owners who are 65 years or older to claim a refundable credit against personal income tax payments.To receive the credit, seniors must file a Massachusetts residence income tax Form 1.The Legislature and Congress are debating giving seniors, along with millions of other Americans, tax rebates in a bid to spur the economy. One potential plan calls for giving $500 to $1,000 rebates to over 20 million seniors.Democrats trying to build support for the rebates hope the combination of help for senior citizens and disabled veterans, a 13-week unemployment extension for those whose benefits have run out, and heating aid would prove a politically irresistible proposition for Republicans.Lobbying intensified on the measure Monday. Democrats invited seniors to Capitol Hill to make a personal plea to senators.Mattie Carvon, 84, of Washington, asked Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus of Montana to “include us” in the rebate.”We need it to live. It’s only fair,” Carvon said.