Posted on 08/06/2009 5:55:58 PM PDT by hole_n_one
Lawmakers pass an extension of the popular program aimed at boosting auto sales.
By Jennifer Liberto and Ben Rooney, CNNMoney.com staff writers Last Updated: August 6, 2009: 8:21 PM ET
WASHINGTON (CNNMoney.com) -- The Senate voted 60-37 passing a $2 billion extension of the popular Cash for Clunkers program Thursday evening, as lawmakers rushed to finish business before their August recess.
The House had already voted to extend the program, which blew through its $1 billion in initial funding, before it adjourned for the summer last Friday.
"Thank you so much for allowing this important stimulus to continue throughout the month of August," said Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. as the Senate started its final vote at 8 p.m.
During the debate, Senate Republicans offered a half dozen amendments to the program. One would have banned all future bailouts and another would have provided tax credits to spur more home sales.
But Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., warned that any attachments would bounce the bill back to the House, delaying the program until after the summer break in September.
President Obama is expected to sign the extension into law later this week.
"It has been a big success, there is no question," said Christina Romer, a top White House economist. "We knew people would respond, but, boy, did they really respond."
(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...
Free money! Let’s pick our fellow citizens’ pockets!
Our country is so goofed up.
Too bad the congress couldn’t start their break 1/1/09 and extend it for about 10 years. The damage these people are doing and have done to the country is unimaginable. It is impossible for the economy to recover and reach a level that will ever pay the deficits that have been bought on by the wreckless spending of the gov’t. We are screwed and most people haven’t got a clue. We will start a death spiral with taxes inevitably increasing while the deficits continue to grow and all the smoke and mirror tricks by the fed won’t stop it.
Voinovichy voted against this amendment.
Absolutely - the taxpayers are paying for this.
But, where in the budget did they come up with a spare $2B in less than a week? Answer: Some say it was robbed from the stimulus bill - originally designated for renewable energy projects. Of course it’s easy and fun to spend Other Peoples Money!
That is, to allow these traded-in vehicles to be given or sold cheaply to low income folks. Mostly Dems voted the same way.
Used car market is going to disappear, mark my words.
Congresscritters buying votes for $4500 a pop. Cash for clunkers sounds like campaign contributions.
Grouped By Vote Position
| YEAs ---60 | ||
| Akaka (D-HI) Alexander (R-TN) Baucus (D-MT) Bayh (D-IN) Begich (D-AK) Bennet (D-CO) Bingaman (D-NM) Bond (R-MO) Boxer (D-CA) Brown (D-OH) Brownback (R-KS) Burris (D-IL) Cantwell (D-WA) Cardin (D-MD) Carper (D-DE) Casey (D-PA) Collins (R-ME) Conrad (D-ND) Corker (R-TN) Dodd (D-CT) |
Dorgan (D-ND) Durbin (D-IL) Feingold (D-WI) Feinstein (D-CA) Franken (D-MN) Gillibrand (D-NY) Hagan (D-NC) Harkin (D-IA) Inouye (D-HI) Johnson (D-SD) Kaufman (D-DE) Kerry (D-MA) Klobuchar (D-MN) Kohl (D-WI) Landrieu (D-LA) Lautenberg (D-NJ) Levin (D-MI) Lieberman (ID-CT) Lincoln (D-AR) Menendez (D-NJ) |
Merkley (D-OR) Murray (D-WA) Nelson (D-FL) Pryor (D-AR) Reed (D-RI) Reid (D-NV) Rockefeller (D-WV) Sanders (I-VT) Schumer (D-NY) Shaheen (D-NH) Snowe (R-ME) Specter (D-PA) Stabenow (D-MI) Tester (D-MT) Udall (D-CO) Udall (D-NM) Voinovich (R-OH) Webb (D-VA) Whitehouse (D-RI) Wyden (D-OR) |
| NAYs ---37 | ||
| Barrasso (R-WY) Bennett (R-UT) Bunning (R-KY) Burr (R-NC) Chambliss (R-GA) Coburn (R-OK) Cochran (R-MS) Cornyn (R-TX) Crapo (R-ID) DeMint (R-SC) Ensign (R-NV) Enzi (R-WY) Graham (R-SC) |
Grassley (R-IA) Gregg (R-NH) Hatch (R-UT) Hutchison (R-TX) Inhofe (R-OK) Isakson (R-GA) Johanns (R-NE) Kyl (R-AZ) Leahy (D-VT) Lugar (R-IN) Martinez (R-FL) McCain (R-AZ) McCaskill (D-MO) |
McConnell (R-KY) Murkowski (R-AK) Nelson (D-NE) Risch (R-ID) Roberts (R-KS) Sessions (R-AL) Shelby (R-AL) Thune (R-SD) Vitter (R-LA) Warner (D-VA) Wicker (R-MS) |
| Not Voting - 3 | ||
| Byrd (D-WV) |
Kennedy (D-MA) |
Mikulski (D-MD)
|
The Baraqqis need to keep Government Motors and FiatUSA alive until Nov 2012.
While the majority of C4C sales are foreign nameplates, it still is providing some "stimulus" for the favored companies.
There are 365 days in a year, and until the socialists got involved American car companies sold cars on every one of them.
NOT ANYMORE.
Corker (R-TN)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Bond (R-MO)
Alexander (R-TN)
Brownback (R-KS)
Fourth quarter auto sales will really suck this year.
Yes, it's nice to know that YOUR tax dollars are paying for someone else’s shiny new car.
On further thought, many of the people who are trading in clunkers for shiny new cars probably cannot afford the new cars, and the taxpayer will be bailing out the lenders to these people when they default on car payments.
Disgusting “lawmakers” screw the provident people again.
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