Car dealers and the reimbursements

[MichaelHarris]

There's been a couple of stories lately about some dealers complaining about not receiving the government funds from the Cash for Clunkers program. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CASH_FOR_CLUNKERS_DEALERS?SITE=TXDAM&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

We can all argue back and forth about this but remember, stories like this only fuel the right-wing talking point about the government's inability to run certain programs. This story WILL be used as proof that the government shouldn't run health care. Free-thinking people know different, we can look beyond the story, even when the "journalists" don't.

The truth is, the program got overwhelmed very quick, it is hugely popular. It's been 51 days and some dealers have been paid, the program has added more employees. For the critics and the doom-sayers, would you just hand over 4500 dollars to a car dealer without checking the legitimacy of the sale? Are there any car lots in America that would cheat the program? Have you bought a car recently? If there is a way to scam some dealers will find it. Basically what I'm saying is this, the government is being careful with your money, they are not going to hand it over willy-nilly to every dealer who claims a sale.

They are going to get there money, they know it, the naysayers know it. They want to use the program as an example of government inefficacy. I say it's an example of government care to make sure it's spending the money safely and by the book, eliminating scams and waste.

I've bought 4 cars in the last 3 years from the same dealer here in eastern Washington, he owns two lots. The program saved his business and kept him from laying off any employees. I know him well enough to know he suffered before the program just so he could keep people working. His lot is empty now except for the clunkers he's taken off the road under this program, well not totally empty, he has a lot of happy employees.

Before you jump on the "Bash the Program" bandwagon remember, it's not the Republican talking point about a failed program, it's the government being careful with your money.

[liberal N proud]

1. I suspect some of these stories are only intended to fuel further stories

Unless there is some evidence shown forth that dealers were screwed by the government, I dismiss any claim otherwise.

I have seen nothing but talk.

[MichaelHarris]

4. If the media

and journalists can't find another missing white women then they may pick up this "story".

[kirby]

2. My tax money

is being spent to stimulate car dealerships and they are bitching.

It has only been 3 weeks, I think that is far too early for complaints about lack of payment.

As far as healthcare, I dont hear similar complaints about Medicare payments. However, I know my private insurance company can takes months to pay my doctor.

[ParkieDem]

10. "As far as healthcare, I dont hear similar complaints about Medicare payments. "

Most doctors I know complain a lot about Medicare payments -- but generally it's the amount, not the promptness of payment.

Medicaid is worse, however. It's tough to find a primary care doc that will accept Medicaid nowadays, because the rates are so obnoxiously low.

Most doctors I know favor health reform because they hate the insurance companies, but they are concerned that reimbursement rates will plummet and it will take forever to get paid under a public option or "medicare for all" system.

[LiberalFighter]

3. Agreed!!!

[Obamanaut]

5. Say what? Did you read the entire post prior to pressing 'post'?

"...the government is being careful with your money, they are not going to hand it over willy-nilly.."

Have you seen the reports of monies going to contractors in Iraq, reports of monies that are being lost (misplaced?) there as well? Monies to FEMA trailers that cannot be used? Monies for weapons systems that the military doesn't want? Monies for pay raises for congress but no cost of living increases for soc sec recipients? Etc?

Rant over.

edited to clarify the portion of my rant on soc sec cost of living adjustment. I can get along without it, we're not in dire straits. It is an aggravation to have them say one thing cannot be afforded, but the same thing for themselves can be.

[MichaelHarris]

6. Didn't

a lot of what you posted happen during a different administration?

[Obamanaut]

7. Oh puhleeze! A different president, of course. But the weasels

with the purse strings and decision making powers are about 90% of the same weasels that have been there for awhile. Any two year election sees about 90% of the incumbents retained.

Isn't it true that the president can make suggestions/requests for spending, but actual bills for spending are controlled by the aforementioned "let's keep em in place for an entire career" weasels?

To clarify the portion of my rant on soc sec cost of living adjustment. I can get along without it, we're not in dire straits. It is an aggravation to have them say one thing cannot be afforded, but the same thing for themselves can be.

[MichaelHarris]

8. then by all means

run with the right-wing talking points. How many days has Obama been in office? Failed programs everywhere!

[cherokeeprogressive]

14. "How many days has Obama been in office?" I haven't seen that canard used here in quite some time.

No one on this thread has made the statement that anything at all had failed. How many days, you ask? Enough days to implement a program (Cash for Clunkers, or "CONSUMER ASSISTANCE TO RECYCLE AND SAVE PROGRAM - CARS) that was not fully thought through.

Transportation Secretary LaHood said today "They're going to get their money. We have the money to provide to them. We have put an enormous number of people, uh, on the task of processing the paperwork. There'll be no car dealer that won't be reimbursed." Fine. Then why not comply with TITLE XIII--CONSUMER ASSISTANCE TO RECYCLE AND SAVE PROGRAM and reimburse them in the time frame it specifies? Because a program was rushed into implementation that clearly was comparable to a plane with only one wing.

God forbid the same thing should happen when healthcare legislation is rushed through at the earliest possible opportunity, because "the perfect shouldn't be the enemy of the good".

[Obamanaut]

15. One of the lowest approval ratings for congress, ever - and yet

MOST of the incumbents seeking reelection were successful. That is not anyone's talking point, it is a fact. That means, it's the same faces in the same game. And that game is "I got mine, and I'm keeping it."

So, when the same weasels continue with the same game, what will be the hue and cry? "But, Obama has only been in office 300 days." or "762 days" or (insert whatever time frame makes you comfortable)

Face it. The man is only one man, not a miracle worker, not the second coming. He is going to be one fish trying to swim upstream to spawn, and the rest of the pack is going the other way and holding him back.

I wish him well, I really do, but that is the reality.

[Fire1]

9. ALL of these people are spoiled. From the pharmaceuticals,

insurance companies to banks, credit card companies, dealerships, the automotive execs and Wall St. They're all used to getting what they want when they want it. They are going to be kicking and screaming for the duration of this administration. Bet on it.

[Bonhomme Richard]

11. My take is that the dealerships took this on themselves.

The ads state that they will take care of the rebate for you. In other words it was set up so you or I could go in, buy a car that qualified for the rebate, fill out and submit to the government the proper rebate form and you will get your money.
I think the dealerships took it on themselves (read marketing gimmick)to process the paperwork for you and now are upset that they fronted the rebate money and they haven't gotten their money yet. I don't think anyone forced them to be the middleman.

[cherokeeprogressive]

13. So the CFC program is merely a "marketing gimmick" for dealerships?

How does that work?

It's pretty simple. If you read the text of TITLE XIII--CONSUMER ASSISTANCE TO RECYCLE AND SAVE PROGRAM, Sect. 1302, Section (a), it states:

Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Program' through which the Secretary, in accordance with this section and the regulations promulgated under subsection (d), shall-
(1) authorize the issuance of an electronic voucher, subject to the specifications set forth in subsection (c), to offset the purchase price or lease price for a qualifying lease of a new fuel efficient automobile upon the surrender of an eligible trade-in vehicle to a dealer participating in the Program

Now let's take a look at subsection (c)

(2) establish procedures for the reimbursement of dealers participating in the Program to be made through electronic transfer of funds for the amount of the vouchers as soon as practicable but no longer than 10 days after the submission of information supporting the eligible transaction

Here's my problem with the whole reimbursement thing: The administration rushed to implement a program that it clearly was not equipped to administrate. The law as it is written gives the dealerships every right to be upset at the slow pace of reimbursement. Placing the blame on the dealerships for their own frustration is, to me, putting the cart before the horse. Title XIII, subsection (c), says the government has no more than 10 days to reimburse me for participating. That's in black and white, and not subject to interpretation. Excuses that the program was so popular that the government has the right to withhold my reimbursement because they weren't equipped to handle the onslaught of paperwork it generated are not good enough. As a new car dealer, I'd quit the program too, or at least suspend my participation in it.

Here's a thought... What say that after rushing health care legislation through, and getting an "imperfect" bill that includes the "public option", the 50,000,000 uninsured people in this country suddenly decide to go to the doctor, for whatever reason from that pesky ingrown toenail to that persistent twitchy eye to the knee that's been sore for years. Will someone in the administration, or congress, say "hey, we didn't realize everyone would want to go to the doctor, and were caught flat-footed. Don't worry though, we plan on having enough clerks to administrate the program within a year". So now the doctors are providing care under the plan, but not getting compensated for it. Would you fault the doctors for deciding to end their association with the program?

[Bonhomme Richard]

16. My bad. I didn't read it. Only assumed because the way.......

auto ads were done.

[elehhhhna]

12. every idiot knows the Fed's a slow-pay customer. `And you always get your money.