Cash for Clunkers Program???

[Mr Gadgets]

Has anyone else received an alert from Summit racing about a bill going through Washington that is a stimilus package that includes a "Cash for Clunkers Program"???

I know a lot of boaters own cars also. I dont normally get on a soap box, but this is important. They want to get this passed by the 6th of Jan so it is ready to be signed when Obama swears in on the 20th.

Here the email I received from Summit Racing:

Dear Fellow Enthusiast,

As a SEMA Member Company, we have received an Urgent Legislative Action Alert from the association. You may be interested in this legislative alert and the possible impact it will have on your hobby.

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) is a non-profit trade association composed of more than 6,800 member companies involved in all aspects of the automotive industry, from manufacturers to car clubs and race teams.

The SEMA Action Network (SAN) protects your hobby from unfair or unnecessary legislation on national and local levels. Through distribution of information and the collective voice of automotive enthusiasts and businesses, the SEMA Action Network has successfully impacted legislation concerning scrappage laws, equipment standards, registration classifications, emissions regulations, and more.

The following information is directly from SEMA. If you would like to contact the lawmaker, follow the instructions in the alert.


Thank you for your time,
Your Friends at Summit Racing Equipment





Washington lawmakers are drafting a large economic stimulus package to help create jobs and rebuild infrastructure. They want to include a nationwide scrappage program which would give U.S. tax dollars to consumers who turn-in older cars to have them crushed, as a misguided attempt to spur new car sales. The lawmakers need to scrap this idea.

The stimulus package is being drafted right now. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) wants to introduce the bill on January 6 and have it approved by Congress by January 20, so that President Obama can sign it into law after he is inaugurated.

Contact House Speaker Nancy Pelosi IMMEDIATELY To Oppose Cash for Clunkers!
Call: 202-225-0100
Click here to send an electronic message: http://speaker.house.gov/contact/

Talking Points
Feel free to use any of the statements below as a starting point for your message to Speaker Pelosi.

I am [calling/writing] to urge lawmakers not to include a “Cash for Clunkers” provision in the economic stimulus bill. Owners who turn in vehicles for crushing would receive a "minimal" payment to purchase a new car. This is a misguided attempt to spur car sales and claim that the country’s air quality or fleet fuel mileage is being improved.


I work for [company name] located in [city and state]. My company is part of the specialty automotive industry, an industry which enables consumers to enhance their vehicle’s appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and safety. “Cash for Clunkers” programs deny our small businesses the availability of older cars necessary to develop and market their products and services. The programs will hurt my company and our customers.


“Cash for Clunkers” programs threaten enthusiasts nationwide with the loss of valuable parts and parts-cars for repair, restoration, and customization projects. The programs also risk destroying classic, historic and special-interest vehicles, our American heritage.


Cars turned in for scrappage often barely run, or are rarely-driven second or third vehicles that have a minimal impact on overall fuel economy or emissions.


“Cash for Clunkers” programs will reduce the availability of affordable transportation and repair parts used by low-income drivers. It will also compete with the Salvation Army, the Purple Heart and other charities that rely on vehicle donations to raise money.


“Cash for Clunkers” ignores better policy options. If Congress wants to act, support for repair and upgrade is a better choice and a win-win for consumers, dealers, manufacturers and repair shops. Significant emissions and fuel economy improvements can be achieved in older vehicles through relatively simple and inexpensive means: repaired/replaced exhaust systems, tune-ups, etc.


We hope we can count on you to reject “Cash for Clunkers.” Thank you for your consideration on this very important matter.
If you choose to send a message to Speaker Pelosi, please send a copy of your message to SEMA also:
E-mail: briand@sema.org
Fax: 202/783-6024

[fund razor]

Thanks Dick.
I hope that it can be prevented. The proposed program is a bad idea.
Too much great automotive history is already gone.

Good luck to SEMA in fighting this.

[Chris]

This isn't the first time this has happened. They'll attempt it again in the future.

Making laws is much tougher than it looks from the outside- there are often many hidden and unintentional ramifications that affect groups that the laws aren't even focused towards.

If Congress really wanted to solve this problem- and a bunch of others at the same time, they would create a national vehicle inspection program- that woud take all the polluters and all the unsafe vehicles off the road virtually immediately.

[Ratickle]

This isn't the first time this has happened. They'll attempt it again in the future.

Making laws is much tougher than it looks from the outside- there are often many hidden and unintentional ramifications that affect groups that the laws aren't even focused towards.

If Congress really wanted to solve this problem- and a bunch of others at the same time, they would create a national vehicle inspection program- that woud take all the polluters and all the unsafe vehicles off the road virtually immediately.

My brother lives in Germany and that's the way it is there. Period....

[jhenrie]

Who proposes these scrappage laws? We need to get on them.

[Scarab KV]

Gee...don't supose lobbyist for the Big 3 had anything to do with this...

[Steve 1]

This affects everyone, I wonder how many Hemi Cuda owners will turn in their cars? I do not see this going far if the opposition gets going.

[Mr Gadgets]

I guess they did it in Calif years ago and alot of old cars got crushed. Just hate to see the old ones get bailed up. From what I read in the email, this bill is suppose to be a quick a minute deal for a stimulus program. They just want to get this through quickly, so they look good. But once it is passed, it wont be repealed..

The guys with the restored cars wont turn theirs in, but if they need parts for them, they wont be available..
I just dont like them adding things on to a bill that is suppose to fix something else.

Dick

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

Texas has a similar plan in place. I don't see it impacting the classic and heritage type cars here.

It does get the old, smoking bombs off the road though. The ones that should have been crushed years ago.

[Ratickle]

Texas has a similar plan in place. I don't see it impacting the classic and heritage type cars here.

It does get the old, smoking bombs off the road though. The ones that should have been crushed years ago.

Did not know that. Is the program based on the same rules as Texas?

[Ratickle]

And does it only apply if replaced with a car made and assembled in the USA?

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

Did not know that. Is the program based on the same rules as Texas?

And does it only apply if replaced with a car made and assembled in the USA?

I don't know how similar they really are. In Texas they pay a flat rate toward a new car. It was in the news last summer. Some clean air act type thing.

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

Here is more info

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2...-01-14-093.asp

Last one didn't link. Here is another