Hope this helps.
The American automobile industry is currently one of the biggest drivers of the U.S. economy. Six million jobs are at stake in the American car industry and one out of every 10 jobs in America is auto-related. A collapse of a major U.S. automaker, such as GM, Ford or Chrysler, would further erode the American economy, given the huge network of suppliers, dealers, and other businesses and communities that would be affected. [This] amendment is not about bailouts. It's about jobs, jobs, jobs.
The amendment is simple. If you buy a new passenger car, mini-van, or light truck by December 31st of 2009, you will get a tax deduction for your sales or excise tax and the interest on your loan. A family would save about $1,500 on a $25,000 car, not counting the additional incentives from dealers.
This amendment also helps state governments. States rely on tax revenue from new car sales. In my home state and many other states the sales tax is around 6 percent, so on a $25,000 car the state gets $1,500 in revenue. New car sales are down millions per year from their averages. This means states are losing billions when they already are struggling. As people buy new cars states' tax revenues will increase.
This amendment is a big deal to families because a car is the second biggest purchase most families make. My amendment is targeted. Families with an income of more than $250,000 a year are ineligible. Cars costing more than $49,500 also are ineligible. This amendment also helps the environment because it gets more people into new cars and new cars are cleaner and more fuel efficient than old cars.
There are 20,000 new car dealerships nationwide. They employ a million people. Most people don't realize that dealers employ an average of 53 people in sales, mechanics, and administrative positions. I visited car dealerships in Maryland and heard from these employees.
Well, I say let's put money where it matters - where it creates jobs. That's why we need this amendment for creating jobs, for consumers, and for the auto industry that is such a driver of our country's economy - so we can get America rolling again."