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| Economy |
| GOP caves on 'clunkers;' Senate will OK $2 billion extension |
| 2009-08-05 |
| The Senate will approve another $2 billion for the popular "cash for clunkers" program, probably by the end of the week, confident Democrats predicted Tuesday as Republican efforts to block the funding faded. "We'll pass cash for clunkers. Before we leave here," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. "The vast majority will be voting for this," added Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich. The Senate is scheduled to begin a month-long summer recess Friday. Many Republicans, realizing that constituents and auto dealers were pushing hard to continue the program, reluctantly agreed. "I don't get a sense anyone will block it," said Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., top Republican on the Senate Budget Committee. The program apparently exhausted its original $1 billion in a few days. The program allows consumers to get up to $4,500 if they trade in old gas-guzzling vehicles for newer, more fuel efficient models. The Obama administration, which Monday warned that the program would end if the Senate didn't go along with the House of Representatives' bill to add $2 billion to the program, was upbeat Tuesday. "I think the last thing any politician wants to do is cut off the opportunity for somebody who wants to get a rebate to buy a new automobile," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #14 Drudge links to articles claiming the dealers are running out of cars to sell, which could put the kibosh on the program. This could become very amusing on short order. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2009-08-05 22:52 |
| #13 Would have been nice to spend that money on missile defense instead of pissing it away on the UAW. |
| Posted by: rwv 2009-08-05 20:47 |
| #12 Another $2B will just help expose the Dems to more of a mess and more ridicule. The clunker program will probably come around to haunt them by next election. Or it might convince some of them to vote for the Dems, hoping to take advantage of the next free money scheme |
| Posted by: ed 2009-08-05 20:01 |
| #11 Couldn't fork over 1.85 billion to keep the F22 line open though. |
| Posted by: Hellfish 2009-08-05 19:52 |
| #10 Calcs I've seen peg the hidden cost of each "rebate" at around $22,000... |
| Posted by: mojo 2009-08-05 14:50 |
| #9 new gov calculation for "age" shows my old clunker at 19 and there cut-off is 18. Oh well, maybe with the millions of used cars trashed it might actual be worth a few $k. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2009-08-05 12:57 |
| #8 "Hazzah! And the commissar says unto you 'your guilt is high and standards low, so take unto you the gold of others and spend your money too and we shall beat cars into tomato cages' and yea, you will know that the government is good" Richard, I might have to disagree just a bit. I understand the prevent defense, but there is a saying about that, especially for us KC Chief fans. When I was a kid I went to the video arcades a-lot. Ah, just a quarter a game I'd tell myself. An hour later I'm out my week's allowance. After I got a job I didn't go to the arcade as much. Lower taxes and allow business to florish and people will have the money to buy their choice of car. When people feel and are better in their monetary station in life they tend to buy better cars. Many don't qualify for this program. Every car junked cuts my total tax contribution for '08. Perhaps GM stands for Government Mule. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2009-08-05 12:45 |
| #7 The $2b for the cash for clunkers comes from a multi billion dollar grant program for green energy research and related purposes. The cash for clunkers program is certainly better than the 'taken from' program from a stimulus point of view. It may also be better from a long term view since a lot of 'green' research is wasted. Of course that doesn't mean its better than nothing. |
| Posted by: Lord garth 2009-08-05 12:40 |
| #6 After all, it's only money. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2009-08-05 12:13 |
| #5 The GOP is probably right on this. Another $2B will just help expose the Dems to more of a mess and more ridicule. The clunker program will probably come around to haunt them by next election. |
| Posted by: Richard of Oregon 2009-08-05 10:49 |
| #4 You don't realize how bloody awful this looks to those of us out here who've pushed past forty without ever having a new-off-the-lot car or truck in their entire lives. |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2009-08-05 09:20 |
| #3 This might be a good thing. If (a big if here) the republicans have some strategic sense, they know the government will blow this 2 billion real quick too. There will be massive amounts of incompetence shown. Maybe, just maybe they are giving Bambie and his friends enough rope to hang themselves and keeping the political capital for the health care fight. Maybe.... I can hope at least. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2009-08-05 07:26 |
| #2 Is the govmint listed as the co-owner on the title of these cars. There are no free lunches. This is not the Oprah show. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2009-08-05 07:09 |
| #1 "I don't get a sense anyone will block it," said Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., top Republican on the Senate Budget Committee. So if you don't NEED a new car, you're just SHI* outta luck for the free cheese? Only the gummit could come up with something like this. Pi** on all of them and their clunker program. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-08-05 06:33 |