From the Huffington Post article found here:
In the aftermath of Sunday’s devastating tornado in Joplin, Mo., a key House panel has approved a $1 billion aid package to make sure federal disaster relief accounts don’t run out before the end of the budget year in September.
The Appropriations panel approved the measure by voice vote as an amendment to a measure funding the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other Department of Homeland Security programs for the 2012 fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.
The disaster aid package would be financed by a $1.5 billion cut from a loan program to encourage the production of fuel-efficient vehicles. That means the new spending wouldn’t add to out-of-control budget deficits.
On Monday, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said that Congress would not approve funds for disaster relief without budget cuts elsewhere. “If there is support for a supplemental, it would be accompanied by support for having pay-fors to that supplemental,” he said.
So yet another win for Big Oil. With gas prices closing in on $5 a gallon and much discussion going on about America's dependence on foreign oil, with the BP disaster in the Gulf of Mexico fading from the memory of the rich, and with Big Oil declaring enormous $10 billion dollar profits for only 3 months of work...let's slash the incentive for fuel-efficient vehicles! Way to go you Republicans...way to go! I have no idea why impoverished people vote these assholes into office. It would seem that commitment to GOP ideology is more important than commitment to actual people who are suffering and need help. Or maybe that's the whole point of GOP ideology. I was so angry, I unfollowed George Bush on Twitter.
In the aftermath of Sunday’s devastating tornado in Joplin, Mo., a key House panel has approved a $1 billion aid package to make sure federal disaster relief accounts don’t run out before the end of the budget year in September.
The Appropriations panel approved the measure by voice vote as an amendment to a measure funding the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other Department of Homeland Security programs for the 2012 fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.
The disaster aid package would be financed by a $1.5 billion cut from a loan program to encourage the production of fuel-efficient vehicles. That means the new spending wouldn’t add to out-of-control budget deficits.
On Monday, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said that Congress would not approve funds for disaster relief without budget cuts elsewhere. “If there is support for a supplemental, it would be accompanied by support for having pay-fors to that supplemental,” he said.
So yet another win for Big Oil. With gas prices closing in on $5 a gallon and much discussion going on about America's dependence on foreign oil, with the BP disaster in the Gulf of Mexico fading from the memory of the rich, and with Big Oil declaring enormous $10 billion dollar profits for only 3 months of work...let's slash the incentive for fuel-efficient vehicles! Way to go you Republicans...way to go! I have no idea why impoverished people vote these assholes into office. It would seem that commitment to GOP ideology is more important than commitment to actual people who are suffering and need help. Or maybe that's the whole point of GOP ideology. I was so angry, I unfollowed George Bush on Twitter.
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Is W really on Twitter? That seems a little too newfangled for him. Anyway, I think electric cars and more hybrids are coming even without these loans. Large automakers are wising up and with gas prices continuing to rise, it's only going to increase consumer demand for more fuel efficient cars--except in Texas.
ReplyDeleteI just got upset when I read the article last night. I typed my blog post while angry. Never type angry.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure just about everyone is sick of big oil making all the money (except for the big oil people, of course.)
ReplyDeleteAgreed, typing angry can land you in hot water, as I can attest to.
ReplyDeleteYeah but in your example...that was the most popular blog post you've ever had. And I got a follower from all of that so I think it was pretty cool. You probably generated 200 page views simply due to that one post.
ReplyDeleteYes never type when you are angry.
ReplyDeleteLucinda's blog is nice. I had to leave a comment without my name as the blogger is having trouble with posting it with my name.
I wouldn't mind if the money being made was fair but with most of these oil companies, many of the countries where the oil companies make most of their money is where many people are suffering. It's the number one problem of humanity - lack of love. Lack of love makes you not care about how you treat people, and money becomes your Master.
ReplyDeleteYes that post did get 288 views that day and another 70 the next day--at least I assume most of the 70 views were there for that and not my post on Star Wars and music.
ReplyDeleteIncidentally I wish I had read the prologue to the novel I'm reading now "The Great American Novel" by Philip Roth because in it the narrator discusses Moby Dick, The Scarlet Letter, Huck Finn, and Hemingway in rather unflattering terms.
Actually, the demand for more fuel efficient cars has been going down. Sales on SUVs and other large vehicles (trucks and vans) have continued to rise despite the increase in gas prices. Everyone anticipated another spike in demand for hybrids and such with gas prices going up, because that's what happened last time. However, people showed that they were people (or maybe just showed that they were usAmericans) and shrugged off the gas price hike in favor of more less fuel efficient vehicles. Way to go USA!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, my kids and I bike back-and-forth to school (and have for years) to cut down on car usage.
Andrew: Price is one of primary the reasons fuel-efficient cars haven’t become the preferred automobile of choice. When the fuel-efficient market leader the Toyota (TM) Prius gained attention, thanks to purchases from early adopters and influencers in 2006, 57% of Americans, mostly upper-income responders, indicated in a Gallup Poll that they would consider buying a hybrid vehicle when replacing their current car. However because prices have remained high on them, Americans have chosen to go with the lower cost cars that unfortunately burn more fuel.
ReplyDeleteThere needs to be more development in fuel efficient vehicles, incentives, etc. to bring the price down and make it affordable. When the first plasma screen televisions rolled out they cost $10,000 and no one except the uber rich could afford them. Now that they are much easier to afford, the new tv's are everywhere.
I understand that stuff (we own a prius), but that's not what I'm talking about.
ReplyDeleteNot, "Gee, we'd really like to be a prius (or equivalent), but we just can't afford it, so we'll be X instead."
No, what I'm talking about is, "Well, we could buy a prius, but, instead, let's buy this huge SUV instead."
I wish I could link the article for you, but it's been a few weeks since I read it, and I don't remember where. Possibly CNN or MSN.
I hate those people who think, "I can afford $7/gallon gas so screw everyone else." I also hate those people who have one kid and think they need an SUV to bring all of the kid's toys to the corner grocery store. Then of course you just have those tiny women who like driving a huge vehicle because it makes her feel big--kind of like why middle-aged guys with sports cars. It might take something really big to give these people an attitude adjustment.
ReplyDeleteAs Michael said, I couldn't afford a hybrid last year, at least not a new one. But I did trade my larger Bonneville for a smaller Focus.
LOL. Love that Georgy Porgy pic.
ReplyDeleteI've always hated Bush anyway... lol
You unfollowed the former prez. That's ballsy. Well done, sir.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I totally dug your previous post about the Game of Thrones, I never picked up on the nipple thing before. Good eye.
In some ways I love Eric Cantor's statement. That's because this country can't continue to run deficits or we are looking at a future where we will be using the dollar for toilet paper because it will be cheaper than the real thing. The problem is the Republicans think the only solution is to cut costs. The real solution is a combination of cuts and OMG! .... TAX INCREASES! The fact they continue to push for the lowest tax rate since the 30s makes them a bunch of douchebags. But I give them a bit of credit... at least they aren't the Dems and ignoring the whole thing (I'm registered Dem but they continue to disappoint in the leadership category).
ReplyDeleteCheck it out, apparently Americans are too fat to buy small cars. (Which isn't true because my whole family is fat and we have a Focus, an Aveo, a Cavalier, and a Saturn!)
ReplyDeletehttp://autos.aol.com/article/are-americans-too-big-to-drive-small/?icid=maing-grid7|main5|dl7|sec1_lnk3|66269
Well, I do have to say, Mutt, that we don'y have a prius because we could afford it. My mother-in-law passed away last year. It was her car. She left it to my wife. I really like having it, now, though.
ReplyDeleteAt some point, I'll write up the saga of our cars. Possibly on my blog. It is, oh, so exciting and includes explosions.