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shaleen's blog
gop to oppose 'cash for clunkers' bill in senate
Published Aug. 3, 2009Views: 745
Many people were upset when they realized the cars they rolled in, pushed in, or pulled in were not elligible for the "clunker for cash" program. "I thought I had $4500 coming", stated one angry consumer. "Obama lied to me", exclaimed another. Apparently these, and many other citizens, were under the impression that all they had to do was bring a car in and the dealer would hand them a $4500 check. They didn't realize that they had to buy an elligible car in order to qualify. "I'm unemployed and don't have reliable transportation. I need a used car, I can't afford a new car. I want my $4500, Obama lied to me", stated one disgruntled person. "Who is going to pay for my time, gas and effort to get this car to the dealer?", shouted one angry customer. One particularly upset person even thought the car he pulled out of the woods would be redeemed for $4500. "I thought that would be a nice gift for my daughter, she just finished up school and I felt I could help her get started in life", muttered an older gentleman. Judging by the compaints of others, money for vacations, purchasing of wide screen tv's will just have to wait.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) will lead Republican opposition to the popular cash-for-clunkers program in an attempt to block additional funding when it comes up for consideration in the Senate this week.
The House voted 316 to 109 Friday to pour $2 billion more into the program, which has proved so popular that it is running out of money before anticipated end-date in November.
But Republican senators, led by McCain, will try to block it.
“My children and grandchildren are going to have to pay for these cars and we’re helping auto dealers while there are thousands of other small businesses that aren’t getting the help,” said Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) during an appearance on Fox News Sunday. “The role of the federal government is not to run the used car business.”
“We’re definitely going to debate it and I’ve heard that John McCain is going to stand up and try to stop it and I’m going to work with him every way that I can,” he said. “This is crazy to try to rush this thing through again.”
"I just think this is a great example of the stupidity that's coming out of Washington right now, and I think Americans realize the numbers that we're throwing around don't work," DeMint added.
DeMint declined to say whether Republicans would be able to mount a successful filibuster to halt the legislation.
Cash-for-clunkers or the Car Allowance Rebate System, as it is formally known, offers consumers up to $4,500 in subsidies for trading in old car and trucks for new vehicles with higher gas mileage.
The House approved new funding for the program after White House officials warned that the $1 billion initially allocated would soon run out. Auto dealers are estimated to have sold 250,000 new vehicles because of the federal incentive.
Some Senate Democrats would like to appropriate even more money than what the House approved last week.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), the vice chairman of the Senate Democratic conference, has called on Congress to infuse $4 billion into the program.
Other Democrats such as Sen. Claire McCaskill (Mo.), however, say they will oppose another $2 billion for cash-for-clunkers, setting up a potentially tough vote this week.
Filed under: People
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GOLO member since October 26, 2008
August 3, 2009 8:57 a.m.
Regardless of the whole, "Other people's tax money for your old car that you had to keep because you couldn't afford a new car payment" program.
GOLO member since May 16, 2008
August 3, 2009 8:57 a.m.
Government shouldn't be in the used car business. Furthermore, the dems should have realized this would have been a bust and done more with the program when they had the chance. But, no, they took the word of the Great One and literally shoved all this through without really understanding.
And we want these bozos running/administering our health care?
GOLO member since July 4, 2007
August 3, 2009 9:01 a.m.
GOLO member since November 3, 2008
August 3, 2009 9:04 a.m.
GOLO member since September 1, 2007
August 3, 2009 9:05 a.m.
That said, the program has run it's course. I'd like to see them step up with just the cash to cover through this past weekend. During the week the gov't said it would be good through the weekend, just honor that and move on.
GOLO member since August 2, 2007
August 3, 2009 9:06 a.m.
GOLO member since May 8, 2008
August 3, 2009 9:06 a.m.
Again McCain may be old and wrinkled but he has more sense than these new rustlers on the hill..............
GOLO member since July 7, 2007
August 3, 2009 9:09 a.m.
GOLO member since March 27, 2009
August 3, 2009 9:09 a.m.
OR I think that was a requirment, had to be registered for the last year.
GOLO member since October 26, 2008
August 3, 2009 9:09 a.m.
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