Extra Funding for Clunkers Faces Roadblocks in Senate

As the House voted quickly today to funnel an additional $2 billion of stimulus money into the stalled Cash for Clunkers program, Sen. John McCain said he will oppose any Senate move to consider the House bill--perhaps even a filibuster. He noted earlier today, "I not only wouldn't vote for the extra two billion, I was opposed to the initial billion... We're now again bailing out the automobile corporations, two of which we own."

In addition, Democratic Sen. Diane Feinstein (CA), who introduced her own plans for a similar CfC program in January, released a joint statement with fellow Sen. Susan Collins (ME) last night, stating:

We will insist than any extension of the program requires that the minimum fuel economy improvement for newly purchased vehicles be at least two miles per gallon higher than it is under the enacted Clunkers program. It is also important to include lower-income consumers who are disadvantaged under the current program. So, we would also include a voucher for the purchase of fuel efficient used vehicles.

In addition to these bipartisan roadblocks for extra CfC funding, the Senate is approaching the August recess and still has to debate and vote on the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor.