Senate saves Cash for Clunkers, remains in war-spending bill
Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives just voted in favor of a war-spending bill that contains the hotly debated Cash for Clunkers amendment. The bill was on its way to the Senate for a vote, but Republican Senator Judd Gregg tried to get the Cash for Clunkers program stripped from the bill that would continue funding the military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. That effort was quashed today when the Senate voted 60-36 to keep the $1 billion Cash for Clunkers bill attached to the $106 billion war-spending bill.
The Cash for Clunkers program will allow anyone to trade in a vehicle that gets 18 mpg or less in exchange for a $3,500 voucher towards the purchase of a new car that gets at least 22 mpg. The voucher increases to a maximum of $4,500 if the new car gets at least 10 mpg more than the clunker being traded in. Truck owners will get $3,500 for trading in and buying a new truck or SUV that is 2 mpg more fuel efficient and $4,500 for one that's at least 5 mpg better.
The Senate could vote on the war-spending bill that contains provisions for the Cash for Clunkers program as early as tonight, so stay tuned.
[Source: Boston Herald | Image: Theo Heimann/Getty]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Samurai Jack 6:08PM (6/18/2009)
I'm sorry, but this entire "cash for clunkers" bill as summarized here is a disgrace and an unnecessary give away.
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Jimmy Mack 6:44PM (6/18/2009)
I'm sorry, but this entire bill " the other 105 billion" as summarized here is a disgrace and an unnecessary give away.
All the right wing nut jobs will complain about the I billion, and won't say a word about the TRILLIONS we are dumping on the sand in Iraq and Afghanistan.
david 6:54PM (6/18/2009)
Jimmy Mack,
So, because we spend 106 billion over there, it makes it OK to spend it here? (the answer I'm looking for is no)
That's like telling your wife that it's OK to use the credit card to go buy some shoes when you just bought an entertainment system when you couldn't afford either in the first place.
You people need to STOP POLITICIZING EVERY DAMN THING. I'm really tired of it. I don't care whether they have an R or a D after their name, they need to listen to us, and stop spending our money, plain and simple.
You're only helping them by playing into the politics, and assuming it's a republicans vs democrats, conservatives vs liberals. It's americans (you and me) vs our out of control government.
Samurai Jack 7:06PM (6/18/2009)
Jimmy Mack,
"A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon we'll be talking about real money."
Waste and fraud is waste and fraud, regardless of which political party or ideology perpetrates the deed. I haven't read the bill in question which is why I used the caveat "as summarized here" in my original comment. And as summarized here this bill is a disgrace. No mention of vehicle age limits, low fuel efficiency targets and a truck provision that is a complete joke. All at a time when the country is beyond broke. Just what goals are they trying to meet here?
I'm pretty sure I got it right when I said "disgrace". Attaching it to a war funding bill only makes it worse--not that we should become distracted by that aspect of it.
Rob 8:06PM (6/18/2009)
This bill rewards idiots who are driving inefficient vehicles, and does NOT reward people who have been driving efficient vehicles.
On that basis alone, I deem this bill completely DUMB.
trax4wax 8:57PM (6/18/2009)
@ a lot of people
If some of "our money" is mine, then I want it back. If I can't get it back, then I guess it's no longer mine. Once our money is taxed, stop talking about it as if it's still ours.
M1hai 6:12AM (6/19/2009)
@ David
Are you comparing war to buying cars?
epwolfram 6:08PM (6/18/2009)
A $3,500 voucher for buying a car that gets 22 mpg, are you Kidding me? Btw, guess where that money comes from...
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geo.stewart 6:25PM (6/18/2009)
"The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with their own money"
Alexis de Tocqueville 1805 - 1859
Jsams4131 6:29PM (6/18/2009)
Exactly aside from us here in the auto hobby I dont think many people put the thought in as to where that money comes from...taxpayers...thats the only people I feel bad for.
Yar 8:10PM (6/18/2009)
The thing is, most people know exactly where this money comes from, and its usually not them. 40% of Americans pay no federal taxes, and that is a huge voting block. The real question here is why the heck is this program in a war funding bill? I'm tired of how this federal system works.
adam1drift 6:15PM (6/18/2009)
I like how they just stick this crap... and all kinds of other crap into War Spending bills... the sad part is, I'll be making money off this crap and I still hate it...
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Erik 6:22PM (6/18/2009)
I saw they deny funding for "cash for clunkers" AND the war
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geo.stewart 6:26PM (6/18/2009)
yep, consider that when you hear how much the 'war' costs.
which war, the one overseas or the one here on our wallets?
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adam1drift 6:47PM (6/18/2009)
that is a great point! i never thought about it that way before....
Clay Garland 11:14PM (6/18/2009)
By "war" they mean "War on capitalism."
Jsams4131 6:27PM (6/18/2009)
Go get your new hybrid folks
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paulbertucci 6:34PM (6/18/2009)
Given the effect this sort of program had on new auto sales in Germany, I'm quite excited for this to finally pass. Yes, it's funded by taxpayer dollars, but people buying goods gets the economy moving.
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tankd0g 6:39PM (6/18/2009)
Although the plan worked a little differently there....
Talisman 6:42PM (6/18/2009)
Yea, not nearly as many people here will be able to take advantage of this. I think they should have made this plan a little more inclusive. As is, most people who want new cars dont qualify to take advantage of it.