Federal car scrappage proposal?

[Ghoste]

I'm told that Nancy Pelosi has introduced a bill to initiate national car scrappage to stimulate new car sales.  That's just what we need.
BTW, this isn't about who is president or who is in Congress, it's about keeping your old car from becoming a sacrificial lamb.
This is the message I received;


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

[Mopar2Ya]

I got this email from Summit. What a shame. How about cash for ricers? 

[TruckDriver]

It's time to start bombarding the white house with letters and emails complaining about this bill

[Mike DC]

   
Scrapping a 1979 Cordoba is not going to sell an extra 2009 Challenger.

 

[Ghoste]

And neither will scrapping a 70 Belvedere or 74 Dart.  These kind of knee jerk laws just make for good press for the politicians and further hardship on the people who already can't afford new cars.

[400/6/PAC]

Is that clean air act federal.
In Texas, They have this deal where You can get a $3,000 credit for turning in an old car if You buy a new one.
A friend of mine just traided a 91 Nizzan and got that credit.
I know 91 Nizzans are not a hot item but it may intice people to give up a real classic.

[Charger-Bodie]

obviously they are too blind to see how much our "hobby" does for the economy!

[Mike DC]

That setup actually doesn't sound as harmful.  How many of the owners of the cars we're worrying about are likely to buy a brand-new car any time soon?  


Either way, we should be arguing for exempting anything older than a certain date.  Ideally they'd make it a rolling year, 25 years ago or something.  Or at least call it at 1974 if nothing else.




We should try to just get it stopped entirely as best we can.  We al know this is not about helping the environment. 

[72SE]

She should stick to the problems in her own state! California seems to be doing so well right now.

[daves68]

I also received that memo from Summit. Good job getting it out there. The truth of the whole thing is that the liberal democrats will use anything to push their agenda of removing your car keys from your hand. Think about this too for a moment- they will give govt money (aka cash from your paycheck) to people who own old crap cars so they can apply it towards purchase of a new one. Clearly, if you drive a junker, it is probably what you can afford. So now the libs will induce you to buy a new, more costly car that you will probably won't be able to make payments on, resulting in a repo by the bank, who will in turn cry to the govt that they are taking a bath on all of the bad car loans they made and now need another taxpayer funded bailout. What a load of crap!!! What we really need is a Pelosi scrappage program.

[69bronzeT5]

obviously they are too blind to see how much our "hobby" does for the economy!

[500hp_440]

lets send Nancy Pelosi to the scrap yard
the voice box is full and i bet its all anti stuff
i just emailed them and i bet it wont be read
but all that it could do is improve foreign car sales aka make japan and china richer, lets not worry that we drive an old pos or classic let worry that our economy will soon callapse if they dont wake up
(sorry if thats too politiacal)
and i agree classic restoration helps the economy other wise id have all my money invested in a new truck that i cant afford the payments on

[Ghoste]

Auto restoration is truly recycling.

[bull]

Sounds like another slap in the face to the poor and middle class. Even then no matter how rich some people get they will never buy a new car because of they are a poor investment; they lose too much value right off the floor. You're way better of buying cars a year or two old and trading up every couple years than you are ever buying new. Add to that the ongoing instability of the big three and no one is going to trust them to honor their warranties in the long run. And a warranty is one of the main reasons people buy new cars.

Additionally, when are the morons going to learn you cannot stabilize an economy on debt? You cannot create a stable financial environment by encouraging people to spend more than they make. Is this rocket science to these people? The average third-grader is smarter than that.

[Ghoste]

I don't know about rocket science but you are talking about a societal niche that when more money is needed they just raise taxes so yeah, they definitely don't understand.

[bull]

I don't know about rocket science but you are talking about a societal niche that when more money is needed they just raise taxes so yeah, they definitely don't understand.

Yes, they raise taxes and print more money. Brilliant.

[AKcharger]

Well now that the car industry is well on it's way to becomeing "nationalizted" the Gov't and do anything and everything they want to sell "their" product. If the Big 3 get even more $$ in '09 (and more federal influence) I would'nt be suprised to see massive tarrifs on anything other than "gov't made " cars. Yes, it might sound "black helicoptorish" but really if you "owned"  an industry and YOU could make ANY rules you wanted...what would stop you?

[Mike DC]

Want the bailout crap to end? 


Then start demanding that the Federal Govt either contain major corporations/industries before they become "too big to fail" with antitrust laws, or else tell the govt to actually regulate the huge corps/industries to protect us once they get that big.  Right now they're doing neither one.


This stuff isn't new.  These are very old issues that reappear periodically.  We've just forgotten how to deal with them in the last generation or two.  A quick glance through a history book spells out what does and doesn't work to deal with it.   


 

[resq302]

I'd rather drive my reliable basic antique anyday of the week as opposed to my truck since it has less computer equipment on it.

[500hp_440]

I'd rather drive my reliable basic antique anyday of the week as opposed to my truck since it has less computer equipment on it.

i hear that, i would drive my jeep but it needs a new axle, i hate unneeded computers

[41husk]

I guess I am part of the problem.  I am looking at a 09 Challenger!