Clunkers cash flowing slowly  Share with others:  Print Email
Read Later  The federal government says it has paid back about
40 percent of the money it owes to car dealers who participated
in the Cash for Clunkers program.  But dealers across the nation
are disputing that claim, saying that less than 20 percent of
the money they put up to make the sales under the program has
been reimbursed to them. Dealers in Pittsburgh say
reimbursements have been sporadic here, too.  "I did read
something within the last 24 hours that the percentage of claims
paid was very, very low, at most in the teens," said Tom Libby,
independent auto analyst.  Officials at the American
International Automobile Dealers Association said yesterday that
the government has paid $1.22 billion for 289,000 vouchers. In
total, 690,000 requests for voucher repayments worth $2.88
billion were submitted.  Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood
said all dealers should be reimbursed by Sept. 30.  "Dealers
started issuing $3,500 and $4,500 vouchers to