Reid confidently predicts Senate will extend ‘clunkers’ program

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) confidently predicted Tuesday that the Senate would pass extended funding for the “cash for clunkers” program before it adjourns for the August recess.

“We will pass cash for clunkers,” Reid said in a press availability after Senate Democrats lunched with President Obama at the White House.

Obama had planned to lean on the Democrats to pass the $2 billion extension for the auto rebate program before leaving. Some Republican senators and even a few Democrats signaled some reluctance to quickly pass the legislation.

Reid said the Senate would vote for the extension “before we leave here.”

When asked if he thought the Senate had the votes to extend the program, Reid simply said, “Yes.”