Psychic?

Yesterday Congress suspended the "Cash For Clunkers" program, as reported here on the blog yesterday. I also added that I was willing to bet that in the end, instead of ending the program, they would actually expand the $1 billion program.

Well, it's official - it appears I am either psychic, or just good at predicting events based on past experience - the House has voted to TRIPLE the amount of taxpayer money used for this travesty:

WASHINGTON – The House rushed Friday to pump $2 billion into a popular cash-for-clunkers program running near empty, with a leading Democrat saying "consumers have spoken with their wallets." (Ed.- actually, it was the scammers who did all the talking)

A floor vote was under way at midday on the bill to refuel the car-purchase program.

Hoyer, D-Md., said that at the request of House Republicans — whose approval was required for swift passage — the bill would include provisions for government auditors to make sure the money was being spent as intended (Ed. - why is it that only Republicans want oversight, to insure money is not stolen?).

Republicans argued that Democrats were trying to jam the legislation through.
The House has voted to rush an additional $2 billion into the popular but financially strapped "cash for clunkers" car purchase program.

The bill was approved on a vote of 316-109. House members acted within hours of learning from Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood that the program was running out of money."

It is true that Republicans have insisted that vehicles being turned it must actually have been owned and insured the previous year (presumably by the person trading it in), which does allow for some protection against fraud. Unfortunately, wherever there are billions of dollars to be had, it is only a matter of days before the scammers find ways around that, with fraudulent paperwork or some other means.

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