Aloha Daze

Here I sit, watching an episode of CSI. A commercial for Ford, advertising the Cars for Clunkers program(CARS – Car Allowance Rebate System) just showed up.

Except, not everything is warm and fuzzy in Obamatown.

WASHINGTON (AP) – Congressional officials say the government plans to suspend the popular “cash for clunkers” program amid concerns it could quickly use up the $1 billion in rebates for new car purchases.
The Transportation Department called congressional offices late Thursday to alert them to the decision to halt the program, which offered owners of old cars and trucks $3,500 or $4,500 toward a new, more fuel-efficient vehicle.

The congressional officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Through late Wednesday, 22,782 vehicles had been purchased through the program and nearly $96 million had been spent. But dealers raised concerns of large backlogs in the system, prompting the suspension.

My understanding is that the CARS program is to be suspended tonight (July 30) at midnight.

Of course, I’m still seeing dealer ads for taking advantage of CARS.

Ruh-roh, Elroy.

RLR

And the media/government/clueless ones wonder why we, the people, are having tea parties.

Well, here’s a good example of why.

Hawaii To Test Taxing By The Mile

Hawaii lawmakers are hoping to pass legislation that would determine the viability of taxing drivers by the mile. Legislators say as more people purchase hybrid vehicles and driving habits change, fuel tax collections will likely suffer.

“We have to make sure that the highway fund is properly funded because if it isn’t, then we simply stop putting in the infrastructure,” said Sen. Kalani English, chair of the Transportation Committee and the lead sponsor of the bill.

The pilot program, known as Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), would be administered by the State Transportation Department as part of the Hawaii’s Highway Modernization Plan. Transportation Director Brennon Morioka told Khon2 a variety of methods would be looked at to determine the best way of tracking driving habits.

“Monitoring your odometers by going into service stations…or using GPS or whatever other form of tracking device,” said Morioka.

I think I should invest in more tea.

RLR

Yeah, that’s right. I’m one of those crazy right wing conservative people that is going to a Tax Day Tea Party here in Honolulu.

In. Honolulu.

How bad has it gotten, when even a liberal state such as Hawaii, thinks the spending and the taxes have gone too far?

I’ll be at the State Capitol Building [yes, they have a permit for this "festival"].

http://www.overtaxedhawaii.com

From 4PM to 7PM on Wednesday, April 15, 2009.

Hopefully, I’ll have somewhere to park.

I’ll probably have to pay a parking tax.

RLR