The Senate’s counterproposal to the House of Representatives Cash for Clunkers bill has been formerly introduced. Senators Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Charles Schumer, (D-N.Y.) and Tom Carper (D-Del.) introduced their own version of the bill aimed at tightening fuel consumption standards for vehicles eligible for a $4,500 voucher today. Until now, the Senators had been debating on whether to attach the bill to a larger tobacco reform bill in hopes of quick passage.
Under the counterproposal, new vehicles purchased through the voucher system would need to get 2 mpg better than the requirements set forth by the House of Representatives, and for the first time certain used and leased vehicles would also be eligible. One of the largest criticisms of the House bill was that it excluded lower income families from participating since they couldn’t afford the cost of a new vehicle even with the financial boost from the program. Most analysts pointed out those very families are the ones most likely to be driving gas-thirsty vehicles.
According to AllAmericanPatriots, the counterproposal could save around 2,745 more barrels of oil per day than the original bill and reduce green house emissions by around 1.91 million metric tons per year. Those figures are sure to please those that said the original bill lacked the green guts to make any serious impact on oil consumption or emissions. [Source: AllAmericanPatriots]
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