. >> maybe we should have a cash for cluckers program and pay people to eat chicken. >> we need a program to pay people to by lumber. >> if you're given free money, you like it, and you want more. that's what this program is. >> still, the house voted by 3-1 to reprogram $2 billion in energy efficiency money to the clunkers program. even supporters say the problem has problems. the clunkers are supposed to be destroyed within two days of the sale but getting a refund gets much longer. i have dealers that have submitted their paperwork and aren't hearing back. >> john mccain is so opposed to the expenditure, he's planning to filibuster when the senate votes next. >> a lot of people are going this weekend to look at buying a new car. >> the amount of money you get for your clunker depends on how much better gas mileage the new car gets and it's a plus for the country that people are buying more fuel-efficient cars than congress expected, a ten-mile a gallon improvement gets the maximum $4,500 now. congress may require a bigger mileage improvement to get that in the fall. bret. bret: wendell

> maybe we should have a cash for clunkers program and pay people to eat chicken -- cash for cluckers program and pay people to eat chicken and after that, pay people to buy tvs. >> you have to be wondering if we have lost our minds here by saying we're going continue to give out more money just for this industry but not help the others. >> reporter: the white house pyrotechnic robert gibbs a -- press secretary robert gibbs applauded fat work but singled increasing frustration of the administration's ability to work with republicans on economic issues. >> i'll let the republicans speak for themselves about whether they have done, what they think they need to do to address the serious problems in this country. >> reporter: the u.s. senate is expected to vote on a similar package next week before it leaves for august break. there are big questions about how long this program can last after nearly exhausting the $1 billion fund in less than a week. if the current -- continues, it could be back in the same spot in less than a month. we'll have more on that at 10. >>> fox 5 learned the ntsb is giv

. >> maybe we should have a cash for cluckers program and pay people to eat chicken. then after that we can have a program to pay people to buy tvs, and then a program to pay people to buy lumber. >> reporter: well next week's senators get to weigh in. we already know it will be a harder sell. david we can tell you that democrats and republicans on the senate side also raise questions about spending another $2 billion for this program. david? >>> kelly o'donnell on capitol hill. kelly, thanks. because nobody knows how long the cash for clunkers will last, the rush to cash in is on and some dealerships are overwhelmed by buyers who want to trade in and trade up. nbc's chris jansing in los angeles at largest ford dealership in the world with more on that. chris. >> reporter: thank you very much, david. behind me are some of the 150 cars already turned in here at the dealership, an indication of how successful the program has been. but it has also been chaotic with dealers and customers wondering how long until the money runs out. sharon bellio was back at the dealership

. >> maybe we should have a cash for cluckers program to pay people to eat chicken. >> reporter: but this is no joke for tens of thousands of consumers who were certain they were cashing in for a new car. at 8:00 a.m. this morning barbara rezner's phone was already ringing -- her dealer telling her the deal was off. then, after learning of the new funds, the connecticut dealer called her back. saying "bring it in after all." >> when i went into the dealership, they told me that it had just been crazy today. >> reporter: many dealers told us they'll keep signing deals through the weekend. in detroit, where the auto industry is in ruins, one dealer couldn't remember the last time he saw this kind of business. >> we've been as busy as we've been in years with this program. >> reporter: in new jersey, liz higgins showed us the wear and tear on her family minivan. >> you saw the duct tape. >> reporter: this is her third time back to the dealership, determined to send her clunker to the junk pile. >> i had to spend $600 to have it repaired so i could drive it here. >> reporter: where will

. >> maybe we should have a cash for cluckers program, and pay people to eat chicken. we decided to give out free money, and now we're surprised when people take advantage of it and love the programs. >> auto dealers and buyers are hoping congress can keep cash for clungers on track. >> buyers get their deal up front, and have nothing to worry about. the dealers might not be so fortunate if cash for clunkers were to stall. >> as you can imagine, car dealers all around maryland have been scrambling to try to get deals through thinking that the program might go coming to an abrupt end. most aren't sure what to do still. we spoke with the dealers and customers about the ordeal. >> we found that most local car dealers only applied for a fraction of the deals they made because it takes so long to get those deals approved. they thought that would be their only problem with the program, there are no worries, because they don't know how much longer the program will be offered. >> these are all our clungers that we've taken in just this week. >> business has never been better, t

. >> maybe we should have a cash for cluckers program and pay people to eat chicken. >> we decided to give out free money and now we are surprised when people love it and take advantage of the program. >> reporter: some are hoping congress can keep cash for clunkers on track. buyers get their deal up front and have nothing to worry about but the dealers might not be as fortunate if cash for clunkers were to stall. on capitol hill, brian mooar, news4. >> if you have questions about the cash for clunkers program you can logon to the program's official website. cars.gov. pat? >>> connecticut senator christopher dodd announced today that he has prostate cancer. the 65-year-old democrat says the disease is in its early stages. he's scheduled to undergo surgery during the senate's august recess. dodd is up for re-election in 2010 and has the illness will not affect those plans. he told reporters during a press conference at his hartford office today that he feels fine. dodd has been working long hours at one of the key players of the effort to overhaul the nation's health care system. >>> n

. >> maybe we should have a cash for cluckers program and pay people to eat chicken. >> we decided to give out free money and now we are surprised when people love it and take advantage of the program. >> reporter: some are hoping congress can keep cash for clunkers on track. buyers get their deal up front and have nothing to worry about but the dealers might not be as fortunate if cash for clunkers were to stall. on capitol hill, brian mooar, news4. >>> car dealers here in our area have been inundated with customers hoping to take advantage of the program. these are the clun kunce fairfax hyundai has taken in during the past week. their show room floor has been bustling with customers ready to buy new cars.ota in sgfis havin three years. the owner says he's not surprised the government funds didn't last long. >> i thought the money would run out before november 1st. i had no idea they would be talking about it running out after a week. i thought it would last a month, month and a half. >> they are now hoping another $2 billion the house has approved for the program will keep those sa

. >> maybe we should have a cash for cluckers program and pay people to eat chicken. >> reporter: those who work in the car industry say the plan is no joke. they need it to drive sales back this the fast lane. joel brown, cbs news, washington. >>> some local dealerships are yet to be certified to take part in the program and others can't keep up with the demand. we will have more on at 6:00 and for more on whether your car qualifies log on to wusa9.com and click on living smart. >>> southwest airlines is jumping in to the bidding for frontier airlines. southwest is offering more than $113.5 million in the bankruptcy court auction, trumping a rival bid for the smaller carrier. if it is successful, the move would make the dallas-based southwest the second largest carrier by the number of passengers in the highly competitive denver market. >>> a tournament featuring homeless soccer players is now underway here in dc. 16 teams featuring homeless men and women around the nation are competing in the street soccer tournament at the washington capitals stadium downtown. you may remember we pro

maybe we should have a cash for cluckers program and pay people to eat chicken. then after that we can have a program to pay people to buy tv's and then a program to pay people to buy lumber. it would pass the test. it has a clever title. it would help a large industry. it would put free money in the hands of consumers, but this is not, this is not a humorous affair, mr. speaker. and it's not humorous because this is an extension of a program that has the government picking winners and losers. why is the auto industry the winner, why is the poultry industry the loser? this is one more step in enshrining us as a bailout nation. now, people say, well, it's $2 billion that's coming out of the stimulus program. well, i would tell my distinguished colleagues that that is still $2 billion that has to be borrowed from the chinese with the bill sent to our children and grandchildren at a time when the national deficit has hit $1 trillion for the first time in history. you cannot bail out, borrow and spend your way into economic prosperity. instead, let's unleash the spiri

maybe we should have a cash for cluckers program and pay people to eat chicken. then after that we can have a program to pay people to buy tv's and then a program to pay people to buy lumber. it would pass the test. it has a clever title. it would help a large industry. it would put free money in the hands of consumers, but this is not, this is not a humorous affair, mr. speaker. and it's not humorous because this is an extension of a program that has the government picking winners and losers. why is the auto industry the winner, why is the poultry industry the loser? this is one more step in enshrining us as a bailout nation. now, people say, well, it's $2 billion that's coming out of the stimulus program. well, i would tell my distinguished colleagues that that is still $2 billion that has to be borrowed from the chinese with the bill sent to our children and grandchildren at a time when the national deficit has hit $1 trillion for the first time in history. you cannot bail out, borrow and spend your way into economic prosperity. instead, let's unleash the spiri

program. >> may we should have a cash for cluckers and pay people to eat chicken. >> some say the plan is no joke, they need it to drive sales back into the fast lane. >>> white house press secretary robert gibbs says the program will be alive this week but not commenting to any time frame beyond that. >>> comments in a murder trial drop a bomb shell in court. a new witness who claims to have been attacked and stabbed by a man matching the description of the suspect. prosecutors provided an updated list of evidence they say links him to the killing including confessions to other individuals that he and two other members killed levi in rock lake park. he was serving a sentence for crimes against other women. a trial date set for january 27 january 27th. >>> an herb that can be smoked is banned in ocean city. an emergency vote will take place on monday to ban the herb. it's banned in 10 states including delaware but not in maryland so far. >>> it's that time of the year when you can enjoy some baseball and help the needy at the same time. the food drive benefits people who need to eat. eyewitn