U.S. Won't Suspend Auto "Clunkers" Program: Official

[elleng]

Source: Reuters/NYTimes

The U.S. government will not suspend its $1 billion "cash for clunkers" auto sales incentive even though confirmed sales and pending transactions neared the limit of 250,000 vehicles much sooner than expected, an Obama administration official said on Thursday night.

The White House was working with Congress to try to extend funding for the program, said the official, who was not authorized to speak for attribution.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/07/30/us/politics/politics-us-autos-usa-clunkers-sales.html

[NYC_SKP]

1. Great news after reading several posts of concern that the program was a failure...

...because it was so successful.

:shrug:

:crazy:

recommended.

[Wickerman]

3. Did ya ever notice that we seem to be so used to losing

that even a win can be spun here as a loss?

[NYC_SKP]

5. yeah... it's a curious behavior.

I chuckle at the silliness as long as it's fleeting and doesn't sink anything in the long run.

We are sentient and sensitive beings, and it's kind of endearing. :P

[bluestateguy]

9. What? The Diebold machines didn't rig everything?

Rats!

[elleng]

4. ANOTHER article, w. more info:

''We are working tonight to assess the situation facing what is obviously an incredibly popular program,'' White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said of the Car Allowance Rebate System. ''Auto dealers and consumers should have confidence that all valid CARS transactions that have taken place to date will be honored.''

Gibbs said the administration was ''evaluating all options'' to keep the program funded.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/07/30/us/politics/AP-US-Cash-for-Clunkers.html

[NYC_SKP]

6. It's remarkable, a positive response and solutions proposed within hours of the "bad" news.

Pretty impressive!

:toast:

[elleng]

8. Right.

I think the 'bad' news wasn't really, just reported too soon???

[Divine Discontent]

15. update on the amounts from cars.gov

$779M Estimated funds remaining for all vehicles except for CAT3 Trucks.

$75M Estimated funds remaining for CAT3 Trucks.

Last update 7/30/2009 at 10am eastern time.

www.cars.gov

[anonymous171]

2. YES! nt

[bluestateguy]

7. If anything, it was a sign that the program was working and was being used

It should not be rocket science to tack on some more money in the regular appropriations process.

[Divine Discontent]

10. KICK! I hope they announce it's announced that they'll fund another 2 billion on Monday!

and that it's not suspended at all!!!

[Divine Discontent]

11. List of things the program effects! Starting with $250 Million for State Tax Revenue!

Also, better environmental emissions, less gas used in hundreds of thousands of gallons a month, need to refill new car lots, less money spent by the drivers for gas each fillup, 100-150 more miles per car's fillup, dealer employees making cash getting taxed by the state, advertisements increasing, and I'm sure there's more -----


They need to run this through the whole period for as many cars that buyers can get into the dealers to get a replacment! This will change a lot of things, and give the states a boost, and give many people's pocket books and wallets a boost too!

F*CK THE GOP!!!

[SeattleGirl]

12. That;s great news, but I wish my two cars qualified.

[Divine Discontent]

14. they figured they had to make the target MPG the lowest gas-guzzlers out there & like many I know

I barely was able to afford a car, and bought one at an auction with the last 2K I had to my name so I could find stable work far away, and now that I've been using this one for a few years, I see that to get me to take it off the road, they'll apply 4500 to a newer car (in my case, I hope to get a tiny car that gets 28-29MPG cumalative city/hwy) and I'll actually be able to afford a new car, and the govt helps the environment by getting my car off the road. I think they should have made it apply to all cars 20MPG and under, and given the plan $10 billion. It's a shame the GOP fought against this, as this is one of those bills that can effect you or someone very close to you and make things better in their lives. My sick sibling relies on my old car to get them to weekly med visits, and getting a new car will make our trips less stressful worrying if we'll make it, literally. I hope your cars last you many years longer, I know what it's like being concerned with a faltering vehicle.

[Mudoria]

13. This was one of the better ideas to come out of the administration

I'd like to see them add a lot more $$$ into the program.

[high density]

16. I don't like the idea of throwing more money at this

The White House is focused way, way, WAY too much on helping the auto industry while there are plenty of other companies out there trying to sell stuff in this tough market that never got any bailout money to begin with. Spread the money around, please.

[Robb]

18. Well

...It also seems pretty popular among that segment of the population that drives cars. :shrug:

[Divine Discontent]

20. This plan has major implications for lowering emissions into the air from cars that are actually in

USE, currently, since they had to show proof of insurance for a year. So, the nation is removing a quarter of a million smog-machines off the highway, and in there place adding low-emissions new cars, that not only save billions of gallons of gas used over their life, but save their drivers thousands of dollars in gas charges over the car's life, spur manufacturing production, and it's been studied and reported that 7 out of 10 people are effected by car sales.

On a side note that would effect whatever industry they would give this credit to, it still should be noted that ---
state taxes for these cars alone totaling over 250 million, and gives the employees at the dealership an income, advertisers income, car insurance local sales offices more in premiums, and any industry that is involved in the care, manufacture, or use of cars a boost.

Yes, it would help ANY industry, but this one effects the environment in noteworthy ways and saves the purchasers of the vehicles plenty of money in fuel costs and gets them over 100 miles more per fillup.

[sutz12]

17. No wonder the RW spinmeisters were trying to say it "failed"

Anything so popular that works so well can't be very good for Amurika, now can it?

Kind of like Social Security. They want to kill it, not because it fails, but because it works and proves all their "anti-socialism" BS patently false.

[InkAddict]

19. The Admin could get this +55 geezer off the road by

sweetening up the deal for early retirement - let's say school loan forgiveness, and early Medicare/supplemental(?), and a lump sum payment from a "trust" that would bring up SS to equal at least a lifetime liveable income at minimum wage.

As it stands, the TPTB have already stolen all I've worked for and am now headed for the "bone yard" of life in slavery.

[GoesTo11]

21. They shouldn't rush to spend more on this

The first $1B got a huge response. Take that feedback. What does it mean? What kind of cars were going in? Does it mean the program was too generous? Would people participate for far less? Is it really very effective and thus worth funding to a greater extent? Were there a lot of people near the cutoffs? Are they buying enough American made cars to make it worth it?

They should probably continue the program, but it's like rolling out a new product. They've done their test marketing, now they can fine tune the promotion to make sure it gives the best bang for the buck before going full-scale.