<VV> Oppose Federal Vehicle Scrappage Program (no Corvair)

Sun Jan 25 11:48:02 EST 2009

Friends
SNAIL MAIL THE LETTERS---They're a LOT harder to ignore.

I've sent over a dozen, as it affects the business I work in.

Hank
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <airvair at earthlink.net>
To: "Virtual Vairs" <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 11:36 AM
Subject: <VV> Oppose Federal Vehicle Scrappage Program (no Corvair)

> -- Oppose Federal Vehicle Scrappage Program --
>
> Our efforts to prevent Congress from including a nationwide "Cash for
> Clunkers" program in the economic stimulus package has been successful ??"
> so far. Thousands of SEMA Action Network (SAN) enthusiasts and SEMA 
> members
> contacted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in opposition to the plan. The
> Speaker's Office informed us that your emails, calls and faxes were
> received and, thanks to your work, Cash for Clunkers was not included in
> the economic stimulus package introduced in mid-January in the House of
> Representatives. Unfortunately, new legislation (S. 247 and H.R. 520) has
> been introduced in Congress to create a national vehicle scrappage program
> which will give U.S. tax dollars to consumers who turn-in their "gas
> guzzlers" to have them crushed. Lawmakers need to scrap this idea!
>
> -- Contact Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA)
> Immediately to Oppose S. 247 and H.R. 520 --
>
> The so-called "Accelerated Retirement of Inefficient Vehicles Act" is Cash
> for Clunkers with a twist. Instead of focusing exclusively on older cars,
> this program would target vehicles with low fuel economy ratings of any
> model year. Participants would receive cash vouchers ranging from $2,500 
> to
> $4,500 based on the model year and whether the replacement vehicle was a
> more fuel-efficient new car or used car (MY 2004 or later). Fuel-efficient
> is defined as getting at least 25 percent better mileage for the corporate
> average fuel economy (CAFE) target for its class. The bill sponsors want 
> to
> scrap up to one million cars a year for at least four years.
>
> There is no evidence that the program would achieve the goal of boosting
> new car sales or increasing fuel mileage. Many states have considered
> scrappage programs in the past as a way to help clean the air or increase
> mpg, but abandoned the effort because they simply don't work. The programs
> are not cost-effective and do not achieve verifiable air quality or fuel
> economy benefits, but they do have a devastating impact on the many small
> businesses that market products and services for the scrapped cars.
> ____________________________________________________________________
>
> Don't Delay! Please contact Senator Diane Feinstein and Rep. Henry Waxman
> today to urge their opposition to S. 247 and H.R. 520. For those who
> responded to our first call for action, we need you again, along with
> everyone else.
>
> Contact Sen. Diane Feinstein to oppose S. 247
> -Click here to send an email:
> http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.EmailMe
> -Call: (202) 224-3841
> -Fax: (202) 228-3954
>
> Contact Henry Waxman to oppose HR 520
> -Click here to send an email:
> http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13
> 13&Itemid=1
> -Call: (202) 225-2927
> -Fax: (202) 225-2525
> ____________________________________________________________________
>
> Talking Points:
>
> -- Oppose the Use of U.S. Taxpayer Dollars for Accelerated Vehicle
> Retirement --
>
> - I am writing to urge lawmakers not to approve an "accelerated vehicle
> retirement" program. This is a misguided attempt to spur car sales and
> claim that the country's fleet fuel mileage is being improved.
>
> - An accelerated vehicle retirement program is flawed since it does not
> target the "gross polluter," an improperly maintained vehicle of any make
> or model year that has poor fuel mileage and dramatically more emissions
> due to poor maintenance.
>
> - An accelerated vehicle retirement program is flawed because it does not
> factor-in how many miles-a-year the collected vehicles are currently being
> driven. U.S. taxpayers will be buying rarely-driven second and third
> vehicles that have minimal impact on overall fuel economy and air 
> pollution.
>
> - Any vehicle scrappage program threatens enthusiasts nationwide with the
> loss of valuable parts and parts-cars for repair, restoration, and
> customization projects. An accelerated retirement program 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.
>
> - Accelerated vehicle retirement is just one of several "Cash for 
> Clunkers"
> programs that has been proposed in Congress. The government should just
> focus on providing a tax incentive to help sell more fuel-efficient,
> cleaner cars ??" new or used. The government should not become a player in
> the vehicle scrappage/recycling industry. We have professionals that have
> been doing that job very well for the past 100 years.
>
> - We hope we can count on you to reject "Accelerated Vehicle Retirement."
> Thank you for your consideration on this very important matter.
> ____________________________________________________________________
>
> Please send a copy of your message to Sen. Feinstein and Rep. Waxman to
> mailto:briand at sema.org.
>
>
>

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