Senate to consider $2B clunkers refill

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is poised to pump $2 billion more into the popular “cash-for-clunkers” program after agreeing to give shoppers until Labor Day to make a deal on more energy-efficient models.

The White House has estimated that tripling the $1 billion program could pay for 500,000 more new-car sales, giving automakers a late-summer boost after months of ragged business. The Obama administration has said the program would go broke by Friday without Congress’ approval of the extension.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Democrats and Republicans had agreed to vote on the plan later today after the formality of considering potential changes to the House-passed version of the bill. None of those amendments is expected to pass.

“We all know that if we change the bill, it will die,” Reid, D-Nev., told reporters today. “We are going to do everything we can to stop that.”