Cash For Clunkers On the Rocks

The Obama administration will suspend the "cash for clunkers" program unless the Senate provides $2 billion more for the popular car incentive plan, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Sunday.

He said he expects the current $1 billion pool to be exhausted by the end of this weekend. The House approved an additional $2 billion on Friday and the administration is pressing the Senate to go along before its summer vacation begins at week's end.

"If we don't get the $2 billion from the Senate ... we would have to suspend the program next week," LaHood said in an interview with C-SPAN's "Newsmakers" show. He said the administration "will continue the program until we see what the Senate does and I believe the Senate will pass this."

At least one GOP senator questioned the need to speed the money.

"This is crazy to try to rush this thing through again while they're trying to rush through health care, and they want to get on to cap and trade electricity tax," said Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C. "We've got to slow this thing down."

I find it disturbing when I watch the car commercials on TV. Both local and nationwide ads are promoting this program. The administration intended the program not just to stimulate car sales, but to get gas guzzling, polluting vehicles off the streets and put more efficient vehicles on the streets. That apparently isn't happening. Many vehicles being offered are trucks, SUV's, and larger cars. Cars being traded in are often less than five year old, are no less fuel efficient that the ones being bought and no less polluting.

At least those taking advantage of the program are getting back some of their tax dollars.