WASHINGTON — Attention, car buyers: There’s still time to get in on the “cash for clunkers” rebate rush.
The House hastened to refuel the program Friday, voting to pour in $2 billion to prop up the trade-in deals that have all but overwhelmed suddenly booming car dealers and exhausted the $1 billion the government had set aside.
The Senate has yet to act, but the White House said weekend deals would count, no matter what.
The program, only a week old, was designed to encourage owners of pollution-spewing gas guzzlers to trade them in on new, more efficient cars, helping the hard-pressed auto industry and the environment too. Enticed by rebates of $3,500 to $4,500, owners are jumping at the offer.
“Consumers have spoken with their wallets,” said Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.
House members approved the measure 316-109 within hours of learning from Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood that the program was already running out of money. The Senate is expected to take up the measure next week, but the White House wouldn’t make any promises for deals beyond the weekend.
President Barack Obama praised the House’s quick work, saying the program had “succeeded well beyond our expectations and all expectations, and we’re already seeing a dramatic increase in showroom traffic at local car dealers.”
Senate approval for the extra $2 billion seemed less certain.
When the Senate approved $1 billion in funding for the plan in June, Democrats struggled to round up enough votes.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California pushed a separate plan requiring the new vehicles being bought to be vastly more fuel-efficient than the trade-ins. She supported the measure that passed after receiving what she said was “absolute assurance” from Senate leaders that an extension would be modeled after her bill.
Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., said he was concerned with the way the House had paid for the extension, shifting $2 billion from a renewable-energy loan program.
