After Cutting The Solyndra Loan Program Twice, Senator Reid Vows To Shut Down The Government Over Cutting It For Disaster Relief

“Democrats Oppose A Republican Plan To Take Money From Clean-Energy Loan Guarantee Programs To Pay For Disaster Relief As Part Of A Short-Term Spending Bill To Keep The Government Operating Beyond Friday’s End Of The Fiscal Year.” (“Need To Know Memo,” National Journal, 9/26/11)

SENATOR REID IS THREATENING TO SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT OVER CUTS TO THE SOLYNDRA LOAN PROGRAM – WHICH HE HAS CUT TWICE BEFORE

Senator Reid Has Twice Cut “$3.5 Billion Total—From The Renewable-Energy Program That Issued Loan Guarantees To Solyndra To Fund Other Programs.” “But twice before, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., diverted money–$3.5 billion total–from the renewable-energy program that issued loan guarantees to Solyndra to fund other programs. The first time he dipped into the program was to pay for the administration’s ‘cash for clunkers’ program; the second time was for state aid. Democrats weren’t thrilled with Reid, but they kept their frustrations in check. But now that Republicans want to use the clean-energy money for disaster relief, Dems are standing firm.” (“Need To Know Memo,” National Journal, 9/26/11)

In 2009, Reid And 50 Other Senate Democrats Transferred $2 Billion From The Program In Order To Extend The Cash For Clunkers Program

Sen. Harry Reid And 50 Senate Democrats Voted On August 6, 2009 To Transfer $2 Billion From The DOE Program That Loaned Solyndra $535 Million In Order To Extend The Cash For Clunkers Rebate Program. (H.R. 3435, Roll Call Vote# 270: On Passage 60-37; D 51-4, R 7-33, I 2-0; 8/6/09; Reid Voted Aye)

• The Bill Transferred $2 Billion From The Department Of Energy’s “Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program.” “For an additional amount for ‘Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Program’ to carry out the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Program established by the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act of 2009 (title XIII of Public Law 111–32), not to exceed $2,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010:  Provided, That such amount shall be available for such purpose only to the extent directed by the President, and shall be derived by transfer from the amount made available for ‘Department of Energy—Energy Programs—Title 17—Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program’ in title IV of division A of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–5):”  (Public Law 111-47, 9/7/09)
• The Transfer Was Designated As “Emergency Funding”. “Provided further, That the amount under this heading is designated as an emergency requirement and necessary to meet emergency needs pursuant to sections 403 and 423(b) of S. Con. Res. 13 (111th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2010.” (Public Law 111-47, 9/7/09)

In 2010, Reid And 56 Other Senate Democrats Rescinded $1.5 Billion From The Program In Order To Bail Out Teacher Unions

Sen. Harry Reid And 56 Senate Democrats Voted To Rescind $1.5 Billion From The Stimulus Program That Loaned Solyndra $535 Million In Order To Bail Out States And Teacher Unions. (H.R. 1586, Roll Call Vote# 228: Motion Agreed To 61-39; D 57-0, R 2-39, I 2-0; 8/10/10; Reid Voted Aye)

• The Bill Transferred $1.5 Billion From The Department Of Energy’s “Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program.” “SEC. 306. There are rescinded the following amounts from the specified accounts: … SEC. 308. Of the funds made available for ‘‘Department of Energy—Title 17—Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program’’ in title III of division A of Public Law 111–5, $1,500,000,000 are rescinded.” (Public Law 111-226, 8/10/10)

REID HAD NO PROBLEM WASTING THE MONEY ON OBAMA’S POLICY FAILURES BUT REFUSES TO CUT THE SOLYNDRA LOAN PROGRAM FOR DISASTER RELIEF

Cash For Clunkers Was A Dud

The Most Common Swap Under The Cash For Clunkers Program Was To Trade In Old Pickups For New Pickup Trucks “That Got Only Marginally Better Gas Mileage.” “The most common deals under the government’s $3 billion Cash for Clunkers program, aimed at putting more fuel-efficient cars on the road, replaced old Ford or Chevrolet pickups with new ones that got only marginally better gas mileage, according to an analysis of new federal data by The Associated Press.” (“Clunker Deals: Old Ford Pickups For New Ones,” The Associated Press, 11/4/09)

• More Than 4 Out Of Every 5 Cars Sold Under Cash For Clunkers Would Have Been Sold Anyways, With Taxpayers Ended Up Spending $24,000 Per Vehicle Sold. “A total of 690,000 new vehicles were sold under the Cash for Clunkers program last summer, but only 125,000 of those were vehicles that would not have been sold anyway, according to an analysis released Wednesday by the automotive Web site Edmunds.com … The average rebate was $4,000. But the overwhelming majority of sales would have taken place anyway at some time in the last half of 2009, according to Edmunds.com. That means the government ended up spending about $24,000 each for those 125,000 additional vehicle sales.”  (Peter Valdes-Dapena, “Clunkers: Taxpayers Paid $24,000 Per Car,” CNNMoney.com, 10/29/09)

The Teacher Union Bailout Didn’t Save Teacher Jobs

Obama Predicted The Teacher Union Bailout Would Save 160,000 Teaching Jobs. “Flanked by Education Secretary Arne Duncan and two teachers in the Rose Garden, Obama said the spending measure being considered by the House of Representatives will help to save the jobs of 160,000 teachers nationwide.” (Michael Shear, “Obama Urges House To Pass Emergency Funding For Teachers,” The Washington Post, 8/10/10)

• Since That Bill Was Passed, Local Governments Have Shed 194,000 Education Jobs. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov, Accessed 9/12/11)
• Teacher Who Stood Behind Obama As He Signed The 2010 Measure To Save Teachers Jobs Was Laid Off Shortly After. “For a while, it looked like a federal measure aimed at supporting teachers and other state and local workers had helped save Amanda VanNess’s job. It turned out it was only a temporary reprieve. President Obama signed a bill in August aimed at saving teachers’ jobs, with Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Council of Economic Advisers chief Christina Romer and teacher Amanda Van Ness on hand. In July, the 25-year-old Ms. VanNess lost her job teaching kindergarten at Pickett Elementary School in Toledo, Ohio, as a result of cuts that came after voters rejected an income-tax increase aimed at shoring up a budget deficit at the Toledo Public School District.” (Justin Lahart, “Teacher Who Served As Symbol Of Jobs Measure Gets Laid Off,” The Wall Street Journal, 10/9/10)