The Washington Independent

Posts Tagged cash for clunkers

Clunkers for Clunkers?

By | 08.12.09 | 2:05 pm

When Congress rushed to pass a $2 billion extension of the enormously popular “Cash for Clunkers” program earlier this month, there were few cheerleaders more quick than President Obama to extol the environmental virtues of the program.

“This gives consumers a break, reduces dangerous More…

Lawmakers Driving on Taxpayers’ Dime

By | 08.07.09 | 2:14 pm

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) didn’t succeed Thursday in his effort to amend the cash for clunkers program to disqualify those drivers earning more than $50,000 a year. (In fact, he ended up pulling his own amendment after discovering a drafting error that the Michigan delegation wouldn’t More…

Done Deal: Senate Passes $2 Billion Cash for Clunkers Lifeline

By | 08.06.09 | 8:12 pm

With the enormously popular cash for clunkers program soon to exhaust its $1 billion allotment, the Senate on Thursday passed legislation providing an additional $2 billion, which the lawmakers hope will see the program through the month.

The vote — 60 to 37 — came less than a More…

Gregg: Loan Guarantee Funding Is Safe, Grandkids Are Not

By | 08.06.09 | 5:14 pm

We ran a piece this morning examining some lawmakers’ concerns about the future of the $2 billion that was plucked from a renewable energy loan guarantee program to extend cash for clunkers.

But at least one lawmaker has no such worries. Not only will the $2 billion be More…

Here Come the Amendments

By | 08.06.09 | 3:47 pm

As Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced last night, the Senate this afternoon will consider seven amendments before voting on a proposed $2 billion extension for the popular cash for clunkers program, which has nearly exhausted its initial $1 billion funding.

The amendments are:

1) Sen. Tom

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The Other Looming Debate Over ‘Cash for Clunkers’ Funding

By | 08.06.09 | 6:00 am

While Senate leaders have reached agreement on a $2 billion extension of the cash for clunkers program, many lawmakers are already bracing for a more distant confrontation: The likely debate over how to return that funding to another stimulus program that it came from.

The House last Friday More…

Toyota Takes Over Top Spot Under Cash for Clunkers

By | 08.05.09 | 5:23 pm

The Department of Transportation just sent out some updated figures on the vehicles being scrapped and purchased under the popular cash for clunkers program, which provides up to $4,500 in cash to drivers who trade their gas guzzlers for more efficient vehicles.

Of the $1 billion allocated under More…

Cash for Clunkers Reduces Emissions — For Free!

By | 08.05.09 | 12:49 pm

The Wall Street Journal has a piece today called “Cash for Clunkers: An Expensive Environmental Fix,” which argues that despite its bigger-than-expected environmental benefits, the soon-to-be-renewed vehicle upgrade program is a costly way to cut carbon emissions. The author writes that the effective price per ton of carbon More…

Town Hall Crashers: ‘Turn the Tables on Our Fuhrer’

By | 08.05.09 | 10:27 am

On Tuesday, Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.) held a press conference on the “cash for clunkers” program and was met by “dozens” of conservative protesters trying to drown him out. The protest was organized by the St. Louis Tea Party, whose Bill Hennessy told protesters the location, the time, More…

A Storm Over Cash for Clunkers

By | 08.03.09 | 11:00 am

With the hugely popular “cash for clunkers program” running short on funds, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood took to the Sunday morning television circuit to urge the Senate to pass an extension this week. From The Associated Press:

“If we don’t get the $2 billion from the

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