Posted on 06/17/2009 10:11:02 AM PDT by upchuck
Auto industry supporters in Congress are bracing for a last-minute challenge this week to a legislative proposal that is designed to spur U.S. vehicle sales.
Republican Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire said he hopes to raise a procedural motion on the Senate floor to strip the provision from a bill that continues funding for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
"As the nation's debt continues to climb to unsustainable levels, it is troubling that Congress is looking for even more fiscally reckless ways to subsidize the auto industry," Gregg said in a statement.
The so-called "cash for clunkers" plan approved in House/Senate negotiations on the larger spending bill would offer consumers up to $1 billion in vouchers toward the purchase of fuel efficient vehicles when they trade in older, less efficient models.
Supporters hope the plan that would run through September 30 will generate up to 250,000 new car sales, boosting a severely depressed industry that has seen two U.S. manufacturers -- General Motors Corp and Chrysler -- seek bankruptcy protection since April.
Gregg argues the proposal is not only fiscally irresponsible but procedurally flawed, too, because it was not included in full House or Senate votes on the wartime appropriations bill.
Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, a lead advocate of the auto proposal, said the measure was of prime importance to automakers and related businesses.
"This is our one chance opportunity to help dealers," Stabenow said.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
It appears that she has taken up nobama's mantra of "now, now, now!" I hear he's giving classes on the weekends.
they scaled way back on the deductions you can take for donating your old car to charity because they coveted the additional revenue. Do they have any idea how many junkyards will get emptied out with this program?
The remaining favored dealers that you didn't just directly force out of business, you mean?
The older cars would be taken off the streets and recycled
Well, dang it - I was looking forward to bleeding the taxpayers to replace my beater. Now it looks like I’ll have to get up off my OWN wallet.
it’s a stampede to socialism
they know if legislation slows down and people get a chance to look in depth there will be trouble
that’s why the blitz for socialized medicine and cap N tax
That would be the auto dealers Zero just put out of business???
I am not giving up my 1979 Chevy pick up. It can haul 12,000 lbs, has AC/heat, good shocks, tires, transmission, brakes, etc. It is a great truck. I do need it to haul my horses.
Right: Scale back on real charities getting real dollars - privately! - and create another government give-a-way bailing out the union-trickle-down-theory of economics.
This is what worries me. The chassis with the engine has to be crushed, it can be stripped for parts, but the question is, who does it?
Do we end up with a hightly unionized "TSA" type of organization full of political hacks and lackies, that sit their and watch the crusher to confim the deed is done?
What effect does this have on oh so many junk yards with small mom and pops trying to eek out a living on old hulks?
My guess is these power hungy Bastardo's want to control these folks too....
The government will take it from you and give you a 2-wheeled, 2 seat version of the Segway
Maybe the Government will ALSO buy your horses and put those methane producing beasts in a boneyard somewhere... it's for the good of everyone, mind you. /sarc
Sorry, Obama, you can’t even pay me to drive your Kommie Kars.
You’ll be eating your horses before Obama is through with us all.
The Democrats want you to help support their UNION buddies and their outrageous benefits.
I’m beginning to think it would be more beneficial to my country to buy a foreign auto...at least, I wouldn’t be supporting people who vote for Democrats that are determined to destroy this country.
A fix for that: the clunker must have been titled to the person trading it in for at least 6 months.
There needs to be ONE TOPIC ONLY rules for ANY bill in Congress.
Any President in the Oval Office needs the LINE ITEM VETO.
Hiding other items inside bills that have a warm and fuzzy title is pure fraud.
On edmunds.com they said that the vehicle had to be the owner’s name for at least a year before it qualifies - that should slow down some buy-it-to-trade-it-in moves (if it ever passes) but will still skew the markets.
My car is 10 year old, Oldsmobile cutlass. 6 cylinders. Still getting >24 mpg all city driving, 32 highway. I am not sure they can do much better than that.
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