POWIP Piece of Work In Progress

Cash for Clunkers Scrambles

Washington Times:

The U.S. Transportation Department, billions of dollars behind in paying "cash-for-clunkers" rebates, has hired private contractors and solicited volunteers from the Federal Aviation Administration and its own executive ranks to work overtime to clear the backlog.

Employees of the FAA's air-traffic-control unit were asked to help, but the Transportation Department stressed Friday that essential safety personnel were not diverted from their duties.

A total of 1,200 workers, including about 300 contractors from Citigroup, the financial services giant, are now working seven days a week to review applications and reimburse auto dealers for rebates advanced to customers, officials said.

The department tripled its program staff to 1,100 last week, and recently added another 100 headquarters employees.

WTF?  Ray LaHood, an Obama crony from Illinois, is in charge of this program.  He's the Secretary of Transportation.

From Wikipedia:

LaHood received a 0% rating from the conservative and anti-earmark Club for Growth 2007 RePORK Card.^[11] He received an 11% rating from Citizens Against Government Waste for 2007 and holds a lifetime 49% rating from the group.^[12]

More:

LaHood's nomination was viewed with alarm among those concerned with climate change and suburban sprawl.^{[14][15][16][17]} His résumé on transport matters is seen as thin by many critics. He did not serve on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee at the time his selection was announced, although he had in the past. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee he did not work on transportation funding.^[18] While picking LaHood drew praise for its bipartisan symbolism there was also a sense that LaHood’s lack of expertise would diminish the department’s role in 2009 major policy debates and leave him as more of a ceremonial figure. James Oberstar, the Democratic Congressman who chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is expected to hold more influence and will likely play a stronger leading role. Oberstar praised LaHood’s “temperament” and “managerial talent,” but when asked to cite an issue LaHood championed during his time on the Transportation Committee in the 1990s, Oberstar seemingly drew a blank. “I can’t point to any specific legislation that he authored,” he said. “He was a team player all the way through.” Oberstar said LaHood would play a supporting role on tough policy calls.^[19]

His nomination was confirmed by the Senate by acclamation on January 21, 2009. He is the only Cabinet member who is officially Republican affiliated. ^[20]

So, we have a Transportation Secretary who can't anticipate bottlenecks.  Swell.

Dan Collins

Dan Collins is a dude who blogs. He used to blog elsewhere. Now he blogs here.

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