War funding, Cash for Clunkers Headed to Obama’s Desk

ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf reports: Senators have voted 91-5 tonight to pass the $106 billion appropriations bill that will fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill passed the House earlier this week and is now en-route to President Obama’s desk. The final vote belies some controversy around $1 billion the bill sets aside for a “cash for clunkers” program. From July 1 – through November 1, new car buyers will get up to $4,500 from the government for trading in their less fuel efficient for a more fuel efficient car. The full subsidy will be given for between 10 and only one mpg better fuel efficiency depending on the automobile being traded in. The trade-ins have to be permanently taken off the road. A budget point of order that would have stripped the measure was defeated 60-39. Sixty senators were needed to set aside the point of order. There was some strong anti-cash-for-clunkers sound on the Senate floor on Thursday. Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., said, "We are passing a bill to purchase cars today and sending that bill to our children and grandchildren.” Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz, said cash for clunkers was, "one of the more remarkable acts of ledger defeat I've seen in my time here… Cash for clunkers! Would somebody please explain to me what cash for clunkers has to do with war funding?” He compared the cash for clunkers measure to enticing people to burn down their houses, collect insurance money, and build a new house on the same spot with taxpayer dollars. “The American taxpayers have already spent $85 billion for the auto companies. why do we need another bailout… no place in a bill that allocates war funds,” McCain said. Sen. Debbie Stabenow defended the measure, saying it was a compromise that packed a one-two punch – serving as a stimulus for the auto industry while at the same time helping to green American roads. Only $79.9 billion of the bill will go to the wars. The rest is to fund a host of other initiatives, from pandemic flu preparedness, to international aid and a controversial $100 billion in loan guarantees – far less in actual outlays – for the IMF. The bill also forbids President Obama from using $80 million to shutdown the prison at Guantanamo Bay and bans the importation of GTMO detainees to the US. The president will have to present a detailed plan to Congress if he wants to meet his own deadline and close the base by next year.