You surely saw this coming, didn't you?

Hundreds of auto dealers in the New York area have withdrawn from the government's Cash for Clunkers program, citing delays in getting reimbursed by the government, a dealership group said Wednesday.

The Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, which represents dealerships in the New York metro area, said about half its 425 members have left the program because they cannot afford to offer more rebates. They're also worried about getting repaid.

"(The government) needs to move the system forward and they need to start paying these dealers," said Mark Schienberg, the group's president. "This is a cash-dependent business."

The government, meanwhile, is ready to put this clunker of a program out to pasture.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Wednesday he would disclose within two days updated figures on the program, including how much of the $3 billion in funding was left. He said he would also offer a blueprint for how the administration will wind down the program to ensure all vouchers issued by dealers are reimbursed by the government before the money runs out.

"They're going to get their money," Mr. LaHood said, responding to dealers' complaints of payment delays. "There will be no car dealer that won't be reimbursed."

Nothing inspires confidence quite like the use of a double negative.

Mr. LaHood previously said that he expected the program to last through Labor Day, Sept. 7. He declined to say Wednesday whether he still expected the program's budget to last that long.

I can just see this, in a future year.

Healthcare Choices Commissioner Kay O'Doul said Wednesday she would disclose within two days how much funding was left in the Cash for Cancerous Kidneys fund. She said she would also offer a blueprint for how the administration will ensure all vouchers issued to surgeons will be reimbursed before the money runs out.

"They're going to get their money," Ms. O'Doul said, responding to doctors' complaints of payment delays. "There will be no surgeon that won't be reimbursed."

Ms. O'Doul previously said that she expected the program to last through December. She declined to say Wednesday whether she still expected the program's budget to last to Thanksgiving.

Well, Russ did say "Health care reform joke goes here." Just following orders.

Labels: economics, health care