Washington (AP) Senate Democrats are calling for a limited windfall profits tax on the largest oil companies and a rollback of $17 billion in oil industry tax breaks as part of an energy package that also would impose federal penalties on energy price gouging.

Senate Republicans strongly oppose those measures, which are widely viewed as having little chance of being enacted. Even then, they would almost certainly prompt a veto by President Bush.

The 25 percent windfall profits tax would apply only to oil companies that "fail to invest in increased (production) capacity and renewable energy sources," according to a summary of the proposals released by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's office.

Montana Senator Max Baucus says it's not right that consumers are paying record high Gas Prices while while big oiil companies get billions in tax breaks.

The energy proposals also seek to halt deliveries of oil into the government's Strategic Petroleum Reserve until oil prices drop to $75 a barrel.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 05-07-08 1625CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list