House Approves $2 Billion Clunker Extension

by Edward Niedermeyer

July 31st, 2009 5:06 PM

house approves 2 billion clunker extension

Automotive News [sub] reports that the House of Representatives has passed a measure to inject another $2 billion into the CARS program, extending it to September 2010. The bill passed 316-109, and now moves to the Senate. There it could face a challenge from Senators led by Dianne Feinstein and Susan Collins, who argue that an extension must include measures to improve the environmental impacts of the bill. Feinstein has requested a full accounting of the measure’s alleged success from the Department of Transportation. Politico reports that Senator Claire McCaskgill has already ruled out support for any transfer of stimulus money to the CARS program. “It will be tough sledding in the Senate, but this would give it considerable momentum,” admits one auto industry source. “It’s not new money, so [it] should be more possible to get GOP support.”

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4 of 16 comments

KixStart on Jul 31, 2009

I'm writing my Senators, right now. This is so wasteful.

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50merc on Jul 31, 2009

So the program is to be extended to September 2010? That's more than a year from now. And if the law still demands you own your clunker for one year.... I'm pretty sure I can find a $200 car that is drivable. I mean, drivable enough to get to a dealership.

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GS650G on Aug 01, 2009
I’m pretty sure I can find a $200 car that is drivable. I mean, drivable enough to get to a dealership. Good point. One of the provisions of this handout was you had to have insurance and registration for the past year on the car or truck. This gotcha clause was inserted to prevent capitalism (how ironic is that?) and somehow legitimize this attempt to clean the air, save the polar bears and starve the arabs. Friend of mine just picked up a truck for 3500 dollars, next year he can trade it in for 4500 after using it for a year. He's laughing already. He can spend 1000 dollars in gas, upkeep and insurance and still break even. Anybody need another lesson on socialism?

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John Horner on Aug 01, 2009

I would love to see those who advocate a do-nothing government also call for scaling back the US' military adventures abroad. At least Ron Paul is consistent in this regard.

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