The Obama administration is refusing to release data on "cash for clunkers"

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Obama administration withholds data on clunkers

WASHINGTON – The Obama administration is refusing to quickly release government records on its "cash-for-clunkers" rebate program that would substantiate — or undercut — White House claims of the program's success, even as the president presses the Senate for a quick vote for $2 billion to boost car sales.

The Transportation Department said it will provide the data as soon as possible but did not specify a time frame or promise release of the data before the Senate votes whether to spend $2 billion more on the program.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Sunday the government would release electronic records about the program, and President Barack Obama has pledged greater transparency for his administration. But the Transportation Department, which has collected details on about 157,000 rebate requests, won't release sales data that dealers provided showing how much U.S. car manufacturers are benefiting from the $1 billion initially pumped into the program.

The Associated Press has sought release of the data since last week. Rae Tyson, spokesman for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said the agency will provide the data requested as soon as possible.

DOT officials already have received electronic details from car dealers of each trade-in transaction. The agency receives regular analyses of the sales data, producing helpful talking points for LaHood, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs and other officials to use when urging more funding.

LaHood said in an interview Sunday he would make the electronic records available. "I can't think of any reason why we wouldn't do it," he said.

LaHood, the program's chief salesman, has pitched the rebates as good for America, good for car buyers, good for the environment, good for the economy. But it's difficult to determine whether the administration is overselling the claim without seeing what's being sold, what's being traded in and where the cars are being sold.

LaHood, for example, promotes the fact that the Ford Focus so far is at the top of the list of new cars purchased under the program. But the limited information released so far shows most buyers are not picking Ford, Chrysler or General Motors vehicles, and six of the top 10 vehicles purchased are Honda, Toyota and Hyundai.

LaHood has called the popular rebates to car buyers "the lifeline that will bring back the automobile industry in America." He and other advocates are citing program data to promote passage of another $2 billion for the incentives -- claiming dealers sold cars that are 61 percent more fuel efficient than trade-ins.

LaHood also said this week that even if buyers aren't choosing cars made by U.S. automobile manufacturers, many of the Honda, Toyota and Hyundai cars sold were made in those companies' American plants.

But there's no way to verify his claims without access to DOT's data.

Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has argued against quick approval of $2 billion for the program because little is known about the first round of $3,500 and $4,500 rebates.

"We don't have the results of the first $1 billion," McConnell spokesman Don Stewart said. "You don't have them. We don't have them. DOT doesn't have all of it. We'd hate to make a mistake on something like that."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090804/ap_on_...rs_transparency

[ready4ONE 5,400]

This lucky gent got a whole new outfit with the money he saved with the cash for clunkers program!

[Ban Hammer 13,395]

i sure hope hillary can do something about this once she takes office.

[Bobby+Umit 161]

Biggest thing I don't like about this program is that a lot of people are only picking up cars that are just "a bit" better MPG wise than the ones they are getting rid of.

NPR report suggests that the minimum MPG needed for the sale will be outmoded in a few years, and these "new" cars would be consider the clunkers later on...

I think they should of forced the people taking this offer to either get "hybrids" or 30+ mpg cars...

[Ban Hammer 13,395]

Biggest thing I don't like about this program is that a lot of people are only picking up cars that are just "a bit" better MPG wise than the ones they are getting rid of.

NPR report suggests that the minimum MPG needed for the sale will be outmoded in a few years, and these "new" cars would be consider the clunkers later on...

I think they should of forced the people taking this offer to either get "hybrids" or 30+ mpg cars...

and american made vehicles........trading in a us made vehicle and running off and buying a japanese or korean made car with tax money kinda chaps my butt.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

If I was a dealer, I would be even more scared. So far, nobody has been reimbursed yet, however, the dealer is subject to a $15,000 dollar fine if he does not make the deal, and destroy the car engine right away. So the dealer has no recourse, if the DOT says, "Sorry, that deal didn't qualify."

[Niels Bohr 72]

Ridiculous! Even using the Freedom of Information Act Request, it takes almost 1 year to get whatever you want from the government. It's not only cash for clunkers. Just like anything in government get in ####### journalist. Heck, when I used the Freedom of Information Act Request, took me a year. Get in line!

#######!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Ford Focus is the top selling - I was thinking about getting one of those. Pretty good gas economy in the recent models - 35mpg.

[My Name Is Nobody 3]

This whole program is a fricken waste. Including the destruction of perfectly good vehicles.

I looked at some of the vehicles that were sold as clunkers to the goverment. It made me want to puke. The goverment bought these cars and they must be destroyed. What a waste of resources.

Most of the cars being destroyed would make good starter vehicles for young adults or families. You know, like helping the less fortunate. But no, we must send them to the scrap pile.

Crock of friggin ######. If you use my tax money to buy them at least give the tax payers a chance to use them for something. More money in the economy.

[Niels Bohr 72]

I think I'm going to buy the new Lexus HS hybrid. That car looks awesome!

[Otto 83]

This whole program is a fricken waste. Including the destruction of perfectly good vehicles.

The goverment bought these cars and they must be destroyed. What a waste of resources.

Just an FYI - the cars will go through a 'process' - first the dealer will pour a mixture of glass beads into the engine (which will seize it and make it worthless/undrivable), then the cars go to (are purchased by, I believe) salvage yards who have (again, I believe) 90 days to strip it of useful parts (body parts, mechanical parts, etc) - then (and only then) is the vehicle destroyed.

The idea is somewhat sound - of course the execution seems to be something to be desired.. (no surprise there).. Similar programs have been working for a while now in Europe.

[mawilson 2,133]

Ford Focus is the top selling - I was thinking about getting one of those. Pretty good gas economy in the recent models - 35mpg.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Looks the dash for the focus has no place to install third party gps or lcd screens.

[My Name Is Nobody 3]

This whole program is a fricken waste. Including the destruction of perfectly good vehicles.

The goverment bought these cars and they must be destroyed. What a waste of resources.

Just an FYI - the cars will go through a 'process' - first the dealer will pour a mixture of glass beads into the engine (which will seize it and make it worthless/undrivable), then the cars go to (are purchased by, I believe) salvage yards who have (again, I believe) 90 days to strip it of useful parts (body parts, mechanical parts, etc) - then (and only then) is the vehicle destroyed.

The idea is somewhat sound - of course the execution seems to be something to be desired.. (no surprise there).. Similar programs have been working for a while now in Europe.

Yes, and your point is? I understand the reason. I know they are destroyed. Waste at its best. We are not Europe. (yet)

My point is the blatant waste and to somehow think we will get rid of all the gas guzzlers. Joke? And on the other hand think of it this way.

You are a middle class family with teenagers approaching the age of driving. Would you not be happy if you could buy one of these cars for a couple hundred dollars for your new teenage driver? I think it would be a big relief to your budget. I actually think you would be smiling from ear to ear. Would this not be a big help from the goverment to a growing family? Not everyone drives 30,000 dollar cars.

Some of the vehicles I looked at were worth anywhere from $1500 to $5000 dollars. The higher end ones would make good starter cars for most families. Heck even the 1500 ones would make good grocery getters.

[mawilson 2,133]

Looks the dash for the focus has no place to install third party gps or lcd screens.

The Ford Focus is their lowest priced car (starting MSRP $15,995).

Their second cheapest model (Ford Fusion, starting MSRP $19,270) has a built-in GPS option.