'Clunkers' fate rests with Senate vote

Administration pressing to continue successful plan

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration will suspend the "cash for clunkers" program unless the Senate provides $2 billion more for the popular car incentive plan, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said yesterday.

He said he expects the current $1 billion pool to be exhausted by the end of this weekend. The House approved an additional $2 billion on Friday and the administration is pressing the Senate to go along before its summer vacation begins at week's end.

"If we don't get the $2 billion from the Senate ... we would have to suspend the program next week," LaHood said in an interview with C-SPAN's Newsmakers show. He said that the administration "will continue the program until we see what the Senate does and I believe the Senate will pass this."