Bill introduced to include motorcycles in 'cash for clunkers' program

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Bill introduced to include motorcycles in 'cash for clunkers' program
Pennsylvania Senator introduces bill in US Senate to attach motorcycles to recently passed legislation

June 15th, 2009

The merits of riding, fuel economy and helping the struggling motorcycle manufacturing industry will be discussed in the United States Senate.

Looking to the "cash for clunkers" program, U.S. Sen. Robert P. Casey Jr. has introduced legislation that would include motorcycles as well. Casey is a Senator from Pennsylvania, a state facing factory closures by Harley-Davidson having already experienced waves of layoffs at its largest factory, in Springettsbury Township, York County.

The factory was specifically mentioned when Senator Casey unveiled the proposed legislation.

The "cash for clunkers' program was designed to encourage consumers to buy new cars by offering government rebates.

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Currently, the program is designed for consumers to trade in a car that gets a combined highway rating of 18 miles to the gallon or less to qualify.

For new cars that get at least 22 miles per gallon or more, a $3,500 voucher is offered. If the new car gets at least 10 miles per-gallon more than the trade-in a $4,500 voucher is offered.

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Casey's bill suggests allowing potential car buyers the option of getting a motorcycle, offering a voucher of $2,500.

The bill's introduction comes as the latest move by Pennsylvania politicians as the struggling economy hits close to home.

The news in May that operations at both Harley-Davidson and Buell were being studied for factory efficiency and the opportunity to have to work done less expensively elsewhere brought immediate action.

Both Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey sent a letter to Harley Chief Executive Keith Wandell, stressing the facility's importance to the local economy and calling on the company to protect the factory's jobs.

Governor Edward G. Rendell expressed his commitment to the future of Harley-Davidson's York plant by directing his top economic development official to meet with the company's management and put the full range of the state's economic development tools on the table.

Casey's measure is now under consideration in the Senate.

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