White House refuses to provide transparency on Cash for Clunkers
posted at 1:49 pm on August 4, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Remember when Barack Obama promised to provide the most transparent administration in history — the Hope and Change of the campaign? Even as the White House demands billions of dollars to extend the Cash for Clunkers program, the administration has decided to stonewall on requests to see the data for an independent determination of the program’s success (via Michelle):
The Obama administration is refusing to 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.
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 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. But the public and Senate Republicans demanding more information will have to wait for details because federal officials running the program don’t have time to turn over data delivered by car dealers, said Rae Tyson, spokesman for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
If the program has been such a success, why stonewall the AP, not exactly known for its hostility to the Obama administration? Perhaps because earlier administration claims about the program will be exposed as lies or exaggerations. For instance, LaHood claimed that the program most benefited Ford and their Focus. However, the AP has seen data that shows that the domestic automakers aren’t benefiting nearly as much as the White House claims — and that six of the top ten models sold in the program come from Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai.
Obama wants billions of dollars more in taxpayer subsidies for clunkers. Taxpayers have a right to know how their money already got spent in this program. Indeed, that data belongs to the public, and we certainly should review it before Obama spends billions of dollars more on it. That’s what transparency is all about.
And if Obama stonewalls on how money gets spent on Cash for Clunkers, imagine how he’ll react to demands for the records on ObamaCare.
Blowback
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Looks like Karl’s post broke the blog!!
califcon on August 4, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Wow, the AP reported that…in that way? Stunning.
SouthernGent on August 4, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Barry is still looking for the ‘profit and earnings’ line on the spread sheet. Give him some time to locate it…
Limerick on August 4, 2009 at 1:52 PM
My guess? They failed to set up a proper system to collect the data.
This is yet another problem with rushing the stimulus bill through. The systems were not in place.
AnninCA on August 4, 2009 at 1:53 PM
and ford is making a profit by sheer coincidence.
sesquipedalian on August 4, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Why are we surprised? This is the same administration that delayed the release of the budget report.
Get used to it, fools. Barack O’Stalin knows what’s best. Don’t question him.
BPD on August 4, 2009 at 1:54 PM
I really miss W. Don’t you?
marktarheel on August 4, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Which makes sense because Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai have the best lines of compact cars. I bet that the top beneficiaries of this program are the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic (which despite being a compact is a nice car).
Illinidiva on August 4, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Just think what the frustration will be when we can’t find out where our government has put grandmother…!
d1carter on August 4, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Perhaps it has something to do with being the only domestic automaker not owned by the government? Just a thought.
BPD on August 4, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Ann, If they can’t do this right, why do you think they will do health care, which is infinitely more complex, correctly?
redshirt on August 4, 2009 at 1:56 PM
60% of the $1 billion was used to buy foreign cars.
How much was used to buy gas-guzzling SUVs?
Some of the 52%ers will be angry when they find out they were bamboozled.
faraway on August 4, 2009 at 1:56 PM
I just don’t know what to say anymore. The Obama media won’t hold him accountable and it feels like we are peeing in the wind.
The dishonesty and corruption of this administration boggles the mind.
therightscoop on August 4, 2009 at 1:56 PM
ford was pulling profits prior to cash for clunkers. or do you not know how financial statements work?
Which, in another thread, AnninCA said she was cool with not being read.
Seriously Ann, do you recognize or care about the cognitive dissonance you express from thread to thread?
lorien1973 on August 4, 2009 at 1:57 PM
Yeah, that’s the problem. Kind of like the problem on the Titanic, running out of champagne half an hour after striking an iceberg.
Vashta.Nerada on August 4, 2009 at 1:57 PM
perhaps the fact that ford is a better company to begin with has to do with the fact that it didn’t need to be taken over…?
in any case:
sesquipedalian on August 4, 2009 at 1:58 PM
McCain: “Why not Cash for Refrigerators?”
faraway on August 4, 2009 at 1:58 PM
as we have said it is an opaque transparency.
rjoco1 on August 4, 2009 at 1:58 PM
What cracked me up? Saw a State Legislator from Florida a couple of days ago, bragging the the STATES are getting about 60 cents on the dollar in taxes and fees, from what the Feds are spending.
I think this data will be very very interesting… when we see the patterns of clunkers turned in, and WHO turned them in.
In my area? Only people driving cars which would quallify for the Clunder status are big SUVs (which have a higher than 4500 resale value anyway), and cars driven by teenagers and “Ethnic Immigrants”…
My guess is there will be a WHOLE bunch of this money that went to Southern California… and other areas with large Illegal Alien populations.
Romeo13 on August 4, 2009 at 1:58 PM
With the job losses report for July due to be released on Friday, Barry might be tempted to try to hide that, too.
ChrisB on August 4, 2009 at 1:59 PM
So bad companies need to be taken over by washington?
lorien1973 on August 4, 2009 at 1:59 PM
The data belongs to the public? Hell, the White House doesn’t belong to the public anymore under Obama.
Dark Star on August 4, 2009 at 2:00 PM
If they go with the insurance company running it idea? I would predict a total mess. They have the systems in place with medicare/medicaid. They don’t with the other plan.
Watch for complete disaster. (Just my opinion.)
The DOT has a method of reporting, of course, for basic information from dealers. But this was actually pretty complex. My guess is that the data if scrambled, and nobody in the administration wants to admit it yet.
That would absolutely support the criticism that he moved too fast on the stimulus bill.
He’d rather be accused of not being transparent, in other words, than admit it wasn’t ready for implementation.
:)
Hey, this is all armchair thinking here on my part. Heck if I really know.
AnninCA on August 4, 2009 at 2:00 PM
But the Transportation Department, which has collected details 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.
This does not speak to systems not being in place. It speaks to not releasing known data.
ICBM on August 4, 2009 at 2:00 PM
Since their profit came in the 2nd quarter, and this program started at the end of July, then I’d say yes, it was a coincidence.
Ed Morrissey on August 4, 2009 at 2:00 PM
They already spent $50 million in admistrative costs on this program! Where did that money go?
PatMac on August 4, 2009 at 2:00 PM
More faith based economics from this administration.
Trust them! They know what they’re doing. What could go wrong?
powerpro on August 4, 2009 at 2:00 PM
Yeah. Belongs. It may no longer mean what we thought it meant.
Gilda on August 4, 2009 at 2:01 PM
Heh!!!!!
He probably can’t find it because it is written in “Argentinean”.
Baxter Greene on August 4, 2009 at 2:01 PM
Ed, please. Facts are confusing me.
faraway on August 4, 2009 at 2:02 PM
Romeo13 on August 4, 2009 at 1:58 PM
AnninCA is cool with that … just like she’s cool with giving illegals health care.
Right Ann?
darwin on August 4, 2009 at 2:02 PM
Ford sales have been climbing for awhile now. It Cash for Clunkers might be helping small amounts, but the Ford products of the last 2 years have been superior to GM & Chrysler.
Also people want to buy a Ford, to say “Screw you” to the Government owned GM & Chrysler money beggars.
portlandon on August 4, 2009 at 2:03 PM
I don’t see what the big deal is. It’s not like the government used our money to fund this program – it used it’s own money.
gwelf on August 4, 2009 at 2:03 PM
Yeah and Pelosi was going to “drain the swamp” and Clinton was going to have “the most ethical administration in history”, and blah blah blah blah…
Big John on August 4, 2009 at 2:03 PM
Bad policy: putting people into houses they can’t afford by making it affordable for them.
Good policy: putting people into cars they can’t afford by making it affordable for them.
What?
lorien1973 on August 4, 2009 at 2:04 PM
I’m with ya there….
*sigh*
cmsinaz on August 4, 2009 at 2:04 PM
JiangxiDad on August 4, 2009 at 2:04 PM
In the case of Cash for Clunkers ‘profit and earnings’, more like Japanese.
ChrisB on August 4, 2009 at 2:04 PM
Release of the data likely also will show that, in fact, very few of claims filed thus far by car dealers have actually been approved or funded due to bureaucratic backlog and SNAFUs — something the administration fears will play into the broader argument being waged about Obama-run healthcare.
TXUS on August 4, 2009 at 2:05 PM
Subsidy-Mania
Cash for Houses
Cash for Washer & Dryers
Cash for empty toilet paper rollers
Cash for Ketchup bottles
portlandon on August 4, 2009 at 2:05 PM
Pelosi did drain the swamp – but the swamp monsters only got stronger.
faraway on August 4, 2009 at 2:06 PM
Where is my beer subsidy?
Limerick on August 4, 2009 at 2:06 PM
Whadda ya want to bet part of the reason it’s not being released is that folks will get mad when they see what is being traded in & for what. The cars coming in are not “clunkers” and the ones being sold just have to be 4 mpg better than the ones coming in & have a combined 22mpg.
This weekend there wasn’t a Nissan 370z available anywhere within 150 miles of us & we are in a major metropolitan marketplace. It falls within the guidelines – 22 “combined” mpg, under 45k sticker fully loaded. And a bunch of friggin morons are paying full sticker, or should I say are taking my tax money and applying it to the sticker and buying up the remaining ’09 stock.
Lots of Sports cars & “Luxury cars” qualify for the program – don’t you all think that will piss off the people who aren’t pissed off yet?
batterup on August 4, 2009 at 2:06 PM
AnninCA on August 4, 2009 at 2:07 PM
How about just lowering the price of a car 6 grand and a whole lot of people would be more interested in a car that almost affordable. I paid $2300 for my first new car and $23,000 for my next new car! A few year between the two, mainly because I bought great used cars for 3 grand and less. Only reason I got a $23,000 new car was because my brother-in-law worked for Ford and had the A plan, took 20% off the top and made it almost affordable. Also needed 4X4 for the winter driving which apparently those in D.C. never encounter. If I could get a good new SUV for less than 25 grand I’d be buying one today. Until then, I’ll stick with what I got and eventually buy used again. By the way, my gas gusseling SUV gets 21 mpg with the air conditioner running and driving 70! Got 280 foot pound of torque too.
flytier on August 4, 2009 at 2:07 PM
So Ed makes 2 major points:
(1) Obama is a liar and his administration is absolutely not transparent.
(2) The Obama administration could very well be hiding it’s own incompetence by not being transparent.
And you only take issue with part of #2. It’s good to see that even liberals think Obama is everything Bush was that was eeeeeeeevil not just 7 months ago.
Even if this were a valid point – it’s beside the point.
gwelf on August 4, 2009 at 2:07 PM
So they have only 157,000 deals in the database? Even at the highest rebate value of $4,500, that only represents about 70% of the billion dollars the government supposedly spent. Maybe the ugly fact they’re hiding is $300 million in overhead to give away $700 million in rebates.
jt on August 4, 2009 at 2:07 PM
Isn’t the issue about what’s in the pipeline versus what’s been verified?
AnninCA on August 4, 2009 at 2:08 PM
it occurs to me that a $4500 rebate for the purchase of High efficiency air conditioners would have made a much larger impact on energy consumption than cars.
redshirt on August 4, 2009 at 2:08 PM
nothing to see here, move along now
______________
this man truly scares me…he can get away with just about anything….
cmsinaz on August 4, 2009 at 2:09 PM
Liberal computers across the planet search Google….developing…
Limerick on August 4, 2009 at 2:09 PM
from ford’s press release:
sesquipedalian on August 4, 2009 at 2:10 PM
All Your Clunkers Are Belong To Us
batter on August 4, 2009 at 2:11 PM
I’d like a Cash for Congressman program.
They’re worthless pieces of crap.
fogw on August 4, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Jim Demint made a great point on the Senate floor, what about those who make washers and dryers, refrigerators, yes air conditioners? Why just the car makers….oh that’s right, we have Government Motors now and the Chrysler Obama Car Company
flytier on August 4, 2009 at 2:11 PM
You cant handle transparency.
the_nile on August 4, 2009 at 2:12 PM
So Fords press release is commenting on a program that affected 1-2 weeks worth of sales and you take their word for it?
Cash For Clunkers may have increased Ford sales but it doesn’t mean it was a good idea.
You seem to be missing the forest for the trees here.
gwelf on August 4, 2009 at 2:12 PM
The “public option” is all subsidized. Who do you think makes up the difference in costs?
Thanks for admitting you want hard working Americans to fork over even more hard earned money to give milions of illegals health care.
Say, why don’t you and people who think like you just pay for illegal health care yourselves and leave us alone?
I’d sure appreciate it. Bring it up at your next La Raza meeting.
darwin on August 4, 2009 at 2:12 PM
The Precedent: “Thank you, redshirt, for your suggestion. We have analyzed it and decided that, since it does not include the required destruction of operational equipment, we cannot support its implementation. Perhaps, if you were to add a clause that called for the tires of said car to be slashed, or sugar to be poured into the gas tank, then we could have worked with you, but in its present configuration, your suggestion will not work towards the goals we have set.
Try and orient your thinking towards mindless destruction and get back to us.”
progressoverpeace on August 4, 2009 at 2:12 PM
Robbing Peter to Pay Paul, and Ann is in CA, aka La La Land.
kirkill on August 4, 2009 at 2:13 PM
The issue revolves around the refusal to release known data.
ICBM on August 4, 2009 at 2:13 PM
The notion of transparency, to me, was always bogus. Obama hid his lobbyist money from the get-go. Hillary shared. McCain shared. Obama hid it. And the media finally dug it out.
He then hid his donation breakdowns. She didn’t. Neither did McCain.
So I never once believed the transparency storyline.
AnninCA on August 4, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Barack ‘Stonewall’ Obama
cmsinaz on August 4, 2009 at 2:14 PM
How many of them are insured?
joeswampy on August 4, 2009 at 2:14 PM
And yet you want to rush through ObamaCare…are the systems in place?
ladyingray on August 4, 2009 at 2:14 PM
The more you know about President Obama, the more you learn how corrupt him and his lackies are. Which could include the entire Democrat Party, the canard about BushHitler was nothing more than a smoke screen for ACORN, and the wealth grab by congress, which happened as soon as the Democrat Party gained the majority in congress.
Rode Werk on August 4, 2009 at 2:15 PM
It’s easy to promise transperancy when you’re head’s in the clouds and you believe all of your plans will work out.
It’s when those plans fail and you have to face the utter embarassment that transperancy seems like a lesser priority. With an ego the size of Obama’s this should come as no surprise.
Scrappy on August 4, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Obama’s next program:
$4500 Air conditioners that come with a free Chevy Aveo.
portlandon on August 4, 2009 at 2:15 PM
What? You mean hiring people to smash windows in everyone’s houses to increase consumer spending isn’t a good idea?
Whoa!
lorien1973 on August 4, 2009 at 2:16 PM
No you can’t see my birth certificate or where your tax payer money is being spent LOL! Most Transparent Administration Evah.
Dr Evil on August 4, 2009 at 2:16 PM
More importantly, it does not give an indirect subsidy to our friends at the United Auto Workers.
Therefore we must ignore your suggestiong.
Signed
Auto Czar
Romeo13 on August 4, 2009 at 2:17 PM
from ford’s press release:
That makes no sense at all. The C4C program started, what, last Friday? How would that impact Ford’s reported sales for the quarter ending June 30? Anyone have an explanation?
califcon on August 4, 2009 at 2:17 PM
I feel like I’m watching a not-very-bright high school government class play-acting economic legislation while trying to please that hippie econ teacher that everyone thinks is so cool.
Mr. Pickles on August 4, 2009 at 2:17 PM
Hey, I just bought a new washer and dryer this past weekend. Where is my subsidy?
ladyingray on August 4, 2009 at 2:17 PM
The Joker: And now, folks, it’s time for “Who do you trust!” Hubba, hubba, hubba! Money, money, money! Who do you trust? Me? I’m giving away free money.
lorien1973 on August 4, 2009 at 2:17 PM
I read recently that strip clubs are really struggling in the recession.
How about a Dollars for Dances program?
guntotinglibertarian on August 4, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Well, obviously. I was just musing as to the motive. I just am guessing that verification is a mess right now. I don’t have much respect for this administration’s ability to execute programs.
I think that reflects Obama’s lack of real experience in government, his background which is slanted to programs that sucked up money and never had to produce results, and his overall incompetence as much other than an empty suit.
One thing I’ll give him. I always thought he was the “president in the pocket” of DC insiders. Well, he’s sort of fooled them, too. He’s refused to initiate programs and made them actually cook up the legislation. It’s their butts on the line, not his. His programs? Geitner’s plan, etc., was tough, hard to sell, and it’s working. Investors are breathing again.
Their programs? They are flopping like fish.
He may have the last laugh on those who backed him, thinking that they were getting a pushover.
AnninCA on August 4, 2009 at 2:18 PM
How much $$$ did we, the OWNERS of Government Motors, make in profit from this program?
Jeff from WI on August 4, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Correct. Its a false premise. This small bump in sales in the last 2-3 weeks is a non sustainable trend. Once the Cash for Clunkers money is gone, the car sales will dry up.
Money for nothin’, Chicks for free.
portlandon on August 4, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Just wait until they start refusing to register vehicles that are more than ten years old. Government motors needs the stimulus somehow.
Vashta.Nerada on August 4, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Press Releases are not financial statements. That’s all you need to know. Ford, in the release, is trying to hype sales for its “green” cars. Someone doesn’t know what a press release is for, that’s all.
lorien1973 on August 4, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Tens for er, ah.well..
Jeff from WI on August 4, 2009 at 2:19 PM
None of us know. There are currently 5 plans in play. We can’t even really talk about it cogently yet.
We can talk about the general ideas of universal coverage, but until they actually pull something together? Who knows.
AnninCA on August 4, 2009 at 2:19 PM
Dammit! Sorry there, neighbors. On the other hand, I did just buy you folks a new Toyota.
ChrisB on August 4, 2009 at 2:19 PM
Change.
Delaware Vol on August 4, 2009 at 2:20 PM
The sad thing is that they are destroying vehicles that could still be bought and used by those who need transportation.
kingsjester on August 4, 2009 at 2:20 PM
Typical of the Bush Administration to keep things hidden from the American people, like how much the War for Oil (Iraq) is costing us…
Err…uh…President Obama is in the White House. Uh…err…never mind. I’ll get back to you…
Liam on August 4, 2009 at 2:20 PM
Get ready for Health Care for Clunkers
Republican Yogi on August 4, 2009 at 2:20 PM
If it was a “green appliance” you can get a tax deduction!
BTW, did you get a front load washer? Wife & I have been thinking about getting a new set, and have heard both good & bad about the front loaders. Feedback?
portlandon on August 4, 2009 at 2:20 PM
Time to report your friends and family to the government!
lorien1973 on August 4, 2009 at 2:20 PM
If you want your clothes to last more than a year – don’t. Less water = more friction. Spend the money to rehab the old ‘water waster’.
Vashta.Nerada on August 4, 2009 at 2:21 PM
OT, Ed, I think this is deserving of a thread.
Red meat.
fogw on August 4, 2009 at 2:21 PM
I work in the health care industry…the systems for medicare/medicaid are insufficient. The paperwork is unbearable. The reimbursement is crap.
Try again.
ladyingray on August 4, 2009 at 2:22 PM
I’m confused. 157,000 rebate requests at a max of $4500 per should only equal 706 million. Where’d the remaining near 300 million go?
Zaggs on August 4, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Ah, the old “hope and change” press release! Thanks for clarifying that, I didn’t bother to download the linked document.
So, it will come as no surprise to anyone that car sales will tank for the next couple of months, reflecting the people who hurried to complete a transaction with Uncle Sugar’s help rather than wait until they would otherwise have made their purchase.
califcon on August 4, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Nice try, but Bush.
LibTired on August 4, 2009 at 2:23 PM
So stop. All that needs to be said is:
The federal government does not have the power to just open up companies in order to ‘provide competition’ to the private sector. End of story on the ‘public plan’. It is un-Constitutional (i.e. illegal) in every sense.
progressoverpeace on August 4, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Sssssshhhh!
Vashta.Nerada on August 4, 2009 at 2:23 PM
do you have a poster to go with this?
faraway on August 4, 2009 at 2:23 PM
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