No criticism of Cash for Clunkers says LaHood
"This was the most wildly successful program ever, selling 800,000 cars in less than 30 days, You see no criticism of Cash for Clunkers in America." - U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood
Ya right.
"It [Cash for Clunkers] has proved to be a highly successful vehicle marketing tool," said Tim Evans, energy analyst for Citi Futures Perspective in New York. "But you would need a microscope to see the demand impact for gasoline from this program because it involves a relatively small number of vehicles."
But the DoE loans in question were approved to encourage the development of alternative energy and biofuels, two "green job" creators that have influential allies on Capitol Hill. Senate Energy Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) is already criticizing the shift [to Cash for Clunkers] as a raid on the clean-energy pot, and Renewable Fuels Association chief Bob Dineen said he wants Congress to promptly put the $2 billion back home at the DoE:
& By Jeff Jacoby - Boston Globe
Q: CONGRESSMAN, was “Cash for Clunkers’’ a success?
....
A: I have to go, but let me say this: If Cash for Clunkers were as dubious as you suggest, it wouldn’t have had so many takers.
Q: Oh, for heaven’s sake, congressman: If you give away money, won’t people always line up to take it?
Lahood: <a href="http://blogs.motortrend.com/6627723/auto-shows/will-cash-for-clunkers-return-transportation-secretary-says-its-up-to-congress/index.html#ixzz0cRwODzAY">http://blogs.motortrend.com/6627723/auto-shows/will-cash-for-clunkers-return-transportation-secretary-says-its-up-to-congress/index.html#ixzz0cRwODzAY</a>;
Tim Evans & Jeff Bingaman <a href="http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/08/03/separating-fact-from-fiction-on-%E2%80%9Ccash-for-clunkers%E2%80%9D/">http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/08/03/separating-fact-from-fiction-on-%E2%80%9Ccash-for-clunkers%E2%80%9D/</a>;
Boston Globe: <a href="http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2009/08/26/the_truth_about_cash_for_clunkers/">http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2009/08/26/the_truth_about_cash_for_clunkers/</a>;