"LaHood: Car Rebates Will Stop Unless Senate Acts"

"The Obama administration will suspend the 'cash for clunkers' program unless the Senate provides $2 billion more for the popular car incentive plan, Transportation Secretary  Ray LaHood said Sunday.

He said he expected the current $1 billion pool to be exhausted before Monday. The House approved an additional $2 billion on Friday and the administration is pressing the Senate to go along before its summer vacation begins at week's end.

'If we don't get the $2 billion from the Senate ... we would have to suspend the program next week,' LaHood said in an interview with C-SPAN's 'Newsmakers' show. He said the administration 'will continue the program until we see what the Senate does and I believe the Senate will pass this.'"

Ken Thomas reports for the Associated Press August 3, 2009.