Bennett pushing fuel-efficiency credit

WASHINGTON — Consumers may get a bigger tax credit for driving fuel-efficient cars, based on a plan Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah is co-sponsoring and expected to introduce Monday.

Bennett and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., have a proposal that would create tax credits for people who buy more fuel-efficient cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles.

Bennett spokeswoman Emily Christensen said the plan builds on the Energy Policy Act passed last year that contains a tax credit for hybrid cars by taking the benefit a step further to other energy efficient technologies.

Based on a car's fuel efficiency level, a consumer could get a tax credit of at least $630 and as much as $1,860, according to Bennett's office.

The proposal would provide tax incentives for purchasers of nearly two million energy-saving vehicles and is fully paid for through eliminating a tax deduction for oil companies that will cost taxpayers $6.8 billion over the next five years.