February 12, 2012

Dealers pleased by Senate’s ‘clunker’ vote

Relief and excitement from the president of the Wisconsin Automobile and Truck Dealers Association. William Sepic says President Obama’s signing of an extra two billion dollars for the “Cash for Clunkers” program will help improve the climate for car buyers – and dealers.”It has motivated consumers to go out and shop, and has been able to help the car dealers out of a challenging situation that they have been faced with the last eight months,” says Sepic.

Despite some grumbling from dealers about the paperwork involved, Sepic says the ‘clunkers’ program is bringing customers into the dealerships and many are
buying even if their ‘clunker’ doesn’t qualify for the federal incentive. Sepic says those late model used vehicles will be needed. “As these manufacturers are gearing up to replace what has been sold, you’ll probably see a slight increase in pre-owned prices for a short time period,” says Sepic. “As there is a reduced opportunity to see the new cars, the used cars will all of the sudden have greater value.”

Sepic says pent-up demand which dealers believed existed is finally being released by the publicity over “Cash for Clunkers,” and the thawing of frozen credit markets.

Submitted by Jeff Petersen, WIXK

Two Wisconsin teams make early exit from Legion Regional

Both Wisconsin teams, participating in the 2009 Great Lakes Legion baseball regional , were eliminated today in Appleton.

Wausau (WI), which won the state title, lost 8-7 last night to Indiana and came back in a losers bracket game today, falling to Sandusky, Ohio 6-4.

Appleton Post 38, which received a bid to the tournament as the host team, fell 11-1 to Palatine, Illinois last night and came back to fall to Rochester, Minnesota 10-9 in a losers bracket game this afternoon.  Appleton blew a 9-5 lead in the 9th inning, watching Rochester score 5 runs in the final inning to come back and win.

GOP diagnoses Obama’s health care plan

On President Obama’s 200th day anniversary, the Wisconsin Republican Party diagnoses his plan on health care. Chairman Reince Priebus says Obama’s public choice option would possess the same problems seen currently with Medicaid and Medicare which is not compensating medical providers the full amount. While a procedure may cost $100, the government will reimburse only $50. Priebus says this will force the clinics and hospitals to increase rates on private insurers making premiums outrageously expensive for customers to maintain their policies. It will eventually cause private plans to fold.

Proponents of public choice believe the policy would bring more competition to the marketplace and be beneficial to the consumer.

The GOP leader admits reform needs to happen.

“It’s not the quality of health care that’s the problem, its the price of health care in the United States,” says Priebus.

He believes the solution lies in a bill co-sponsored by Janesville Republican House member Paul Ryan. The Patients Choice Act would give tax breaks to those who carry their own insurance plans and penalize insurance companies that cherry pick only the healthiest of customers to provide coverage for.

AUDIO: Brian Moon reports (MP3 :77)

Dealers pleased by Senate's 'clunker' vote

Relief and excitement from the president of the Wisconsin Automobile and Truck Dealers Association. William Sepic says President Obama's signing of an extra two billion dollars for the "Cash for Clunkers" program will help improve the climate for car buyers – and dealers.

"It has motivated consumers to go out and shop, and has been able to help the car dealers out of a challenging situation that they have been faced with the last eight months," says Sepic.

Despite some grumbling from dealers about the paperwork involved, Sepic says the 'clunkers' program is bringing customers into the dealerships and many are

buying even if their 'clunker' doesn't qualify for the federal incentive. Sepic says those late model used vehicles will be needed. "As these manufacturers are gearing up to replace what has been sold, you'll probably see a slight increase in pre-owned prices for a short time period," says Sepic. "As there is a reduced opportunity to see the new cars, the used cars will all of the sudden have greater value."

Sepic says pent-up demand which dealers believed existed is finally being released by the publicity over "Cash for Clunkers," and the thawing of frozen credit markets.

GOP diagnoses Obama's health care plan

On President Obama's 200th day anniversary, the Wisconsin Republican Party diagnoses his plan on health care. Chairman Reince Priebus says Obama's public choice option would possess the same problems seen currently with Medicaid and Medicare which is not compensating medical providers the full amount. While a procedure may cost $100, the government will reimburse only $50. Priebus says this will force the clinics and hospitals to increase rates on private insurers making premiums outrageously expensive for customers to maintain their policies. It will eventually cause private plans to fold.

Proponents of public choice believe the policy would bring more competition to the marketplace and be beneficial to the consumer.

The GOP leader admits reform needs to happen.

"It's not the quality of health care that's the problem, its the price of health care in the United States," says Priebus.

He believes the solution lies in a bill co-sponsored by Janesville Republican House member Paul Ryan. The Patients Choice Act would give tax breaks to those who carry their own insurance plans and penalize insurance companies that cherry pick only the healthiest of customers to provide coverage for.

AUDIO: Brian Moon reports (MP3 :77)