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Bennett backs tax break for fuel efficiency. (http://www.sltrib.com/ci_4357079?source=rss)

Thomas Burr - Salt Lake Tribune - Sept. 18, 2006

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2007_Chevrolet_Aveo2.jpg
2007 Chevrolet Aveo is just one of the sub-compacts that may be eligible.

WASHINGTON - The first member of Congress to own a hybrid vehicle, Utah Sen. Bob Bennett, wants to offer better incentives for Americans to buy more fuel-efficient cars and trucks.

Bennett, R-Utah, and Oregon Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden unveiled legislation Monday to offer a tax break of between $630 and $1,860 for consumers buying new, fuel-efficient vehicles as motivation to wean the nation off its oil dependence. The tax break - which they say could also be used as a cash rebate on a car purchase - would be offset under the duo's plan by rolling back a tax deduction used by large oil companies for drilling and development costs.

"Being a free-market guy, I prefer incentives over mandates," Bennett said at a news conference where he drove his own hybrid Ford Escape onto the lawn near the Senate office buildings.

Vehicle Efficiency, or OILSAVE - is being introduced too late the session to pass, but that the two senators wanted to start the debate.

Consumers can already get a tax break when purchasing hybrids, but the Bennett-Wyden legislation would allow consumers to get a break on any fuel efficient vehicle, even those that are conventional.

Vehicles that get 25 percent more fuel efficiency than current standards would qualify under the legislation.

What took 'em so long?

That sounds good to me. That would probably have the effect of growing sales of the "pint-sized wonders" even more. In my neighborhood, there are two FITs, an Aevo, a Scion Xa, a Mazda 3, a Yaris, and an Insight. They're all cute, safe, efficient, clean, user-friendly cars. With the exception of the Insight, they've all arrived in the past 6 months.

Now if only there was a bill that would impose a $5,000-$10,000 tax *penalty* on gigantic SUVs...

I haven't seen too many subcompacts in my area but there are alot of Priuses. One house in my neighborhood has two in the driveway. It makes me envious to drive by it.

:Banane37: I just looked at this car the Aveo LT and for 2007 it is not bad.

So a Tax Incentive would I think really get the public thinking about the smaller vehicles out there for sell.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2007_Chevrolet_Aveo2.jpg


Terry (tiger)

I tried to look at it, but the Aveo web page kept making my computer crash. :mad: If the car's reliability is anything like the web page's, I don't want to get anywhere near it.