[Nobbc] Legislative update

[Greg Tatarian]

FYI:
Cheers,
Greg Tatarian

Urgent Legislative Alert 
<http://email.e-mailnetworks.com/ct/3952844:1768788461:m:1:114714034:CF562FB24F80E23A5302463E014F8223> 

	
Dear Fellow Enthusiast,

Last month, we sent you an Urgent Legislative Alert from The Specialty 
Equipment Market Association (SEMA) regarding a proposed Cash for 
Clunkers bill that would threaten our hobby. Thanks to your 
overwhelming response, this legislation was dropped from the economic 
stimulus package. Congratulations for standing up for your rights as 
enthusiasts!

We have just received a follow-up Legislative Alert from SEMA. 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. This program would target vehicles with low fuel economy 
ratings of any model year. That means sports cars, SUVs, and 
performance-built vehicles could be crushed in exchange for a monetary 
reward.

The following information is directly from SEMA. If you would like to 
contact the lawmaker, follow the instructions in the alert.


Thank you for your time,

Your Friends at Summit Racing Equipment

	

Oppose Federal Vehicle Scrappage Program
	
Our effort to prevent Congress from including a nationwide Cash for 
Clunkers program in the economic stimulus package has been successful  
so far. Thousands of SEMA members and SEMA Action Network (SAN) 
enthusiasts contacted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in opposition to the 
plan. The Speakers 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 Dianne 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 dont 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.

*Dont 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. Dianne Feinstein to oppose S. 247*
Click here to send an email: 
http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.EmailMe 
<http://email.e-mailnetworks.com/ct/3952845:1768788461:m:1:114714034:CF562FB24F80E23A5302463E014F8223> 

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&=view&id=1313&Itemid=1 
<http://email.e-mailnetworks.com/ct/3952846:1768788461:m:1:114714034:CF562FB24F80E23A5302463E014F8223>
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. Even on a voluntary basis, the
      program will hurt thousands of independent repair shops, auto
      restorers, customizers and their customers across the country that
      depend on the used car market. These businesses are already very
      vulnerable in the weak economy.
    * 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.
    * Accelerated vehicle retirement wont generate many new car sales.
      The cash incentive provided will not be enough to enable a person
      to buy a new or used vehicle.
    * Accelerated vehicle retirement will compete with nonprofits that
      rely on vehicle donations to raise funds, such as the Salvation
      Army, the Purple Heart and other charities.
    * Accelerated vehicle retirement threatens to disrupt a large and
      complex industry which already handles scrappage, repair,
      remanufacturing and recycling issues. This independent industry
      provides thousands of American jobs and generates millions of
      dollars in local, state and federal tax revenues.
    * Accelerated vehicle retirement ignores better policy options.
      Taxpayer dollars would be better spent as direct tax incentives to
      purchase a fuel-efficient new or used car, without a government
      vehicle crushing program. Congress should also provide tax
      incentives to upgrade, repair and maintain existing cars, trucks
      and SUVs. There are many commercially available products and
      technologies that can substantially improve fuel mileage and lower
      the emissions.
    * We hope we can count on you to reject Accelerated Vehicle
      Retirement. Thank you for your consideration on this very
      important matter.

If you choose to send a note and/or message to Sen. Feinstein and Rep. 
Waxman please forward a copy of your message to:
E-mail: briand at sema.org <mailto:briand at sema.org>