Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Cars

Another Shutdown Avoided

12:00 PM EDT on September 29, 2011

It's getting to be a little like the Boy Who Cried Wolf over on Capitol Hill. I mean, it's hard to get all revved up about an impending government shutdown when Congress always insists on taking negotiations to the edge and they always figure out something right before the deadline.

The 2011 fiscal year ends tomorrow, and up until a few minutes ago lawmakers were still fighting about funding the first few days of the next fiscal year. But the House just voted to approve the Senate's bill to fund the government through Tuesday, at which point Congress will vote on another measure that would keep the government open through mid-November.

Actually, only three members of the House voted on the stopgap bill, because the House is in recess this week, and they were the only ones around. The session lasted five minutes.

The GOP had been insisting that money be cut from additional disaster funds inserted into the bill, or else that it be cut from another program -- specifically, a Democratic favorite that gives loans to auto companies to encourage the development of green car technology. The standoff fizzled when FEMA "found" some money "under a couch cushion."

Michigan Democrats had fought hard to protect the clean car subsidies from GOP cuts, saying the program is responsible for 40,000 jobs in their state and others.

Auto companies that receive the loans have kept auto plants in the U.S. rather than move them overseas, according to central Michigan's Daily Tribune: "Ford elected to build its new Ford Focus in Michigan rather than Mexico and Nissan now plans to build electric vehicles in Tennessee thanks to the loans."

There seems to be a new battle over spending cuts every couple of months, though, so if the Republicans have already given notice that they've got the auto loan program in their sights, don't expect the issue to go away too quickly.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Tuesday’s Headlines Triple the Fun

Amtrak is staffing up and ready to spend the $66 billion it received from the bipartisan federal infrastructure law.

September 26, 2023

Pols: Congress Must Bolster Sustainable Commutes to Reduce Carbon and Congestion

The feds should bolster sustainable commuting modes and transportation demand management strategies.

September 26, 2023

Monday’s Headlines Are All About Pete

From trying to avert a government shutdown to promoting rail safety, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is in the midst of a busy week.

September 25, 2023

What is the Life of a Dead Pedestrian Worth?

A Seattle police officer sparked outrage when he joked that the death of pedestrian Jaahnavi Kandula might be settled for as little as $11,000. Some families get even less.

September 25, 2023

Why Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled Matters

“Our job now is to prioritize solutions that mitigate the impacts of climate change while equitably improving quality of life. To do so we need to rethink how we build so Californians can drive less."

September 22, 2023
See all posts