News
'Clunkers' rebates look likely for another month
By: yahoo.comPosted On: 08/05/2009 4:45 P
Pressing colleagues to replenish the "cash-for-clunkers" program, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid warned lawmakers they might miss their August vacation takeoff plans Friday if they don't quickly pass the $2 billion measure.
"If we don't work something out on the cash for clunkers," Reid said from the Senate floor Wednesday morning, he would file motions to close debate. That would kick off a time-consuming series of procedures that would push the debate into the coveted recess set to begin on Friday. Or the Senate could vote the House-passed version up or down, as is, and be done with it.
"We all acknowledge there's a significant majority that want to move forward with this legislation," said Reid, D-Nev.
It was the senatorial version of a parents' warning to bickering children: Work it out, or the car will be turned around instantly.
Talks were proceeding toward likely votes on Thursday, aides said.
There was every indication that lawmakers would extend the popular program, which offers car buyers rebates of up to $4,500 for trading in their gas-guzzlers for new, higher-mileage models.
Reid had said on Tuesday that he had the votes to pass a $2 billion extension already approved by the House, the amount President Barack Obama says is necessary to meet a surging demand that would otherwise deplete the program by Friday. He said Wednesday there are estimates that as many as 300,000 vehicles have been bought under the program.
Many Republicans oppose the plan
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