Ok, a quick rundown. Cash for Clunkers is a great program that the Department of Transportation runs. It’s a new program, the idea behind it being that the government will buy your old, clunky, pollution spewing car at above market value by giving you a rebate to buy a newer, more fuel efficient car. The problem? It’s worked too well and so many people are trying to participate that it needs more funding. The fact that it’s working too well of course means that this great program, which has worked well in Germany I might add, that helps the economy by boosting auto sales, helps the environment by getting rid of older pollution prone vehicles, and helps you save on gas by enabling you to get a more fuel efficient car, has to be killed by the Republicans. Now the wingnuts aren’t alone here. Claire McCaskill…a Democrat from Missouri who I used to like a lot…has been tweeting (God I hate that phrase) her plans to kill the program. And you can bet, if a slightly conservative Democrat like McCaskill is out to get this program, Lincoln and Pryor might not be too far behind. So let’s call our senators and give them a simple message-keep Cash for Clunkers around or pay a political price (that being the only language they’ll understand).
UPDATE: There’s hope for the program! Apparently, key Senators Dianne Feinstein of California (a Democrat) and Republican Susan Collins of Maine are voicing strong support for the bill. Collins vote cancels out McCaskill’s opposition (though I’m still hoping Claire comes around in the end). Let’s make sure Pryor and Lincoln support this program, it’s too good to let die just because the ever so small Mr. McCain is still mad that he’s not the President.
