Cash for Appliances likely coming by end of year on clarkhoward.com

Now that Cash for Clunkers is disappearing in the rear-view mirror, it's time to gear up for…Cash for Appliances?!

The federal government is readying money for states to set up their own appliance purchase program. The stated goal of the program is to replace energy-guzzling appliances with Energy Star products. But the ulterior motive is to help the appliance industry after it fell apart with the housing market.

Some of the items that will likely be covered include air conditioning units, water heaters, fridges, dishwashers, washing machines and dryers.

But beyond that, it will be up to the individual states to set the parameters of the program. Expect a lot of variance from state to state.

The money should be ready in time for Christmas appliance shopping. "Hey, honey, I got you this new washer for Christmas!" Not exactly a way to win brownie points with the spouse.

The truly odd thing about the program is that you won't have to trade in your old appliance to get the deal on a new one.

One final word of advice: Don't take your old fridge and use it in your garage or basement. It's likely to be an energy beast. Just scrap it once you have a new one.

What others are saying

appliance giveaway
Let's all avoid GE..they seem to be part and parcel of this terrible scam we are subjected to by this administration.
By Lorraine Madden @ 09/27/09 10:31:27 AMreport abuse
overspending
my my--all the comments about Obama, the democrats and overspending--this just happened---you have just awakened?
Where were you during the last eight years. We always overspend--and we are still here.
By william @ 09/23/09 03:31:45 PMreport abuse
Re: What others are saying
point well taken bill....but if the Dems just gave the money to everyone then they wouldn't have total control over our lives....
By jeff @ 09/22/09 07:48:28 PMreport abuse
Perfect solution
Obama is thinking small again. Why not just give everyone $1 million. Then we could end all the welfare programs and everyone would be rich. People could afford to buy anything they wanted which would stimulate every phase of the economy. Tax revenues would certainly increase and therefore the program would pay for itself. Why hasn't some liberal thought of this yet?
By Chuck @ 09/22/09 11:22:02 AMreport abuse
How about forgiving my student loan
If DED can forgive my student, I promise I will throw the $9K+ into the economy. I have a few things in mind including a high end, full suspension, mountain bike that is hand made in the USA.
By Yongshin @ 09/21/09 03:15:04 PMreport abuse
Cash for Appliances delayed to April 2010
Florida hearings today: Sept 16th 2009. Draft of Appliance Rebate Program has start date as April 16, 2010. For updates go to myfloridaclimate.com
By Florida Resident @ 09/16/09 03:12:55 PMreport abuse
easy to blame
kudos to every citizens that dont know what they want.didn't freedom come at a price?didn't this housing crisis a dream of Bush senior and Bill clinton come at a price?Yes and as people wasn't our moral duty to say NO we could not afford this house and spending.But we enjoyed it and now the party is over its time to pay the bill(due).It all comes at a price and as a reality check we all need to brace for tougher times ahead.The govt is like family it got income(our tax paying $$) and expenses(SS,SSI medicare etc).They will balance it at any cost if not us it be our children that be paying for our bills.
By john @ 09/06/09 08:18:15 PMreport abuse
Obamanation
When I used to try to explain to my grade-school daughter and how raising taxes and printing more money isn't the solution, perhaps I was wrong. The "anointed one" and the Dems have re-defined basic economics!
By Bill @ 09/04/09 04:02:06 PMreport abuse
cash for anything
I may be paranoid, but doesn't this seem like the government is trying to buy us? We keep accepting all these giveaways and I can't help but feel if you're getting sucked into this you're selling your soul.
By cookie @ 09/03/09 03:14:30 PMreport abuse
Cash for...
Next they are going to stimulate gentlemans clubs. "Cash for strippers" Your get $100 free ones complement of Obama and the tax payers when you walk in the door for tips / lap dances.
By Dman @ 09/03/09 08:58:54 AMreport abuse
cash for...
How about "cash for Politicians" for everyone we vote out we get a check?
By oldvw @ 09/03/09 01:35:18 AMreport abuse
cash givaways
If you own a business and are forced to lay someone off. But don't know who, go in your parking lot and anyone with an Obama bumper sticker that's the ones.
By sic-of-bama` @ 09/02/09 10:55:35 PMreport abuse
Cash for CRT Tv's?
I'm totally on board as long as I can trade in my engery hog crt tv for a new energy efficient 47" lcd! Come on Pol's, this is your golden opportunity to buy votes. Nobody really needs new appliances, but everyone needs a new car and a flat screen tv.
By drew @ 09/02/09 02:18:43 PMreport abuse
Cash
How about cash for wives? My comment is ridiculous, and so is the motive of our government.
By Mike B from Florida @ 09/02/09 01:55:53 PMreport abuse
ok
I initially was going to respond to the final word of advice that an energy beast is probably confined to the SE and SW. I lived briefly in New England and we kept our refrigerator we moved with from the South, in the basement. One of the throw-ins for the house was a new refrigerator (we bought the model home in the subdivision). Basement was always cool. Then I saw how political all the comments were. Sure, I don't like the use of tax dollars to subsidize industry. But if you think it benefits a particular company - think again. The majority of the purchases for the Clunkers were imports except for Ford Focus. I expect most of the appliances will be imports too. But they are voluntary particpation programs and Energy Star is just a ratings guide not a mandate. But I am glad the level of political debate is way above complacent. Nice.
By naive @ 09/02/09 01:22:14 PMreport abuse
Clark needs to have a national response
Clark, why don't use your show and status to say no more of these bogus programs. You have the credibility to stop these insane programs. Cash for clunker that does not even require a clunker payback to GE is exactly what this is. Even though these appliances aren't even made here anymore. Stand up for us from getting ripped off here!
By jim rivers @ 09/02/09 11:07:16 AMreport abuse
More debt - YEA!
Just what we need now: more debt! I have a wonderful Maytag washer and dryer set that I bought in the late 1960's. They are built like tanks and will run forever. They get stripped and cleaned once a year, new belts and hoses installed, lubed and the white enamel finish is polished to a bright sheen.

They aren't going ANYWHERE!

Washers and dryers sold today are Chinese-plastic-junk, and won't last 5 years. I don't care how much juice my wonderful old appliances eat --they flat-out WORK, and in this day and age, that's something of a miracle to me. Same goes for incandescent light bulbs.

Want to guess who's stocking up bigtime? CFL's suck for most applications, and I'm sure Obama will outlaw filament bulbs soon. Bah! Is nothing sacred anymore?

What's next? Cash for old tube Stereos? I bought mine in the mid 70's and is still sounds great. I don't give a damn how much power it uses, and I don't give a damn if the government approves or not. How about cash for old red LED watches too? Got one of them on my arm. Cash for old Jeeps? Bite me. The only way that Chairman Obama will get my Jeep from me is from MY COLD, CURLED DEAD FINGERS!!!!!

I can't wait until next year. I plan to vote anyone/everyone who supports this crap out of existance.
By Another Old Guy @ 09/01/09 09:33:13 PMreport abuse
Another garbage program
I resent another program to put me and my kids into long-term debt for, in many cases, destroying appliances with useful lives left. End of the empire of debt by voting libertarian or some party w/ fiscal responsibility, not Dems & Repubs
By Ben @ 09/01/09 07:06:14 PMreport abuse
Democrats Graft and Corruption
This is payback to GE Corporation. They have been carrying water for the Democratic party for some time and they expect to be paid back, and will be. MSNBC TV has been the propaganda arm of GE Corp. for some time and they have been promoting the agenda of the leftist Democratic party. Under Bush/Cheney the leftists constantly harped about the connection with Cheney every time that Haliburton received a government contract. But this connection with GE surely is a more clear example of graft.
By Buzz G @ 09/01/09 06:53:01 PMreport abuse
Excellent
This is wonderful news. Its about time.

Thank you Clark
By Socialist Sam @ 09/01/09 04:21:26 PMreport abuse
cash for applicances
will this money be taxable too just like clonker car money was????
By neely @ 09/01/09 04:20:24 PMreport abuse
Spend and stimulate!
When do they start the cash for hookers program? It should be very popular with politicians of all stripes and they could even tie in with Obamacare by offering free samples of Viagra or Cialis.
By Fast Fred @ 09/01/09 03:46:59 PMreport abuse
Enough Already with the Cash giveaways!
The Obama administration has no clue as to what the purpose of the Federal govt is. Maybe before they read the pending legislative bills on healthcare they should go and read the Constitution.
By Dr.F @ 09/01/09 02:46:35 PMreport abuse
great!
More of our tax money well spent!
By Pete @ 09/01/09 02:08:15 PMreport abuse

appliance giveaway

Let's all avoid GE..they seem to be part and parcel of this terrible scam we are subjected to by this administration.

By Lorraine Madden @ 09/27/09 10:31:27 AMreport abuse

overspending

my my--all the comments about Obama, the democrats and overspending--this just happened---you have just awakened?
Where were you during the last eight years. We always overspend--and we are still here.

By william @ 09/23/09 03:31:45 PMreport abuse

Re: What others are saying

point well taken bill....but if the Dems just gave the money to everyone then they wouldn't have total control over our lives....

By jeff @ 09/22/09 07:48:28 PMreport abuse

Perfect solution

Obama is thinking small again. Why not just give everyone $1 million. Then we could end all the welfare programs and everyone would be rich. People could afford to buy anything they wanted which would stimulate every phase of the economy. Tax revenues would certainly increase and therefore the program would pay for itself. Why hasn't some liberal thought of this yet?

By Chuck @ 09/22/09 11:22:02 AMreport abuse

How about forgiving my student loan

If DED can forgive my student, I promise I will throw the $9K+ into the economy. I have a few things in mind including a high end, full suspension, mountain bike that is hand made in the USA.

By Yongshin @ 09/21/09 03:15:04 PMreport abuse

Cash for Appliances delayed to April 2010

Florida hearings today: Sept 16th 2009. Draft of Appliance Rebate Program has start date as April 16, 2010. For updates go to myfloridaclimate.com

By Florida Resident @ 09/16/09 03:12:55 PMreport abuse

easy to blame

kudos to every citizens that dont know what they want.didn't freedom come at a price?didn't this housing crisis a dream of Bush senior and Bill clinton come at a price?Yes and as people wasn't our moral duty to say NO we could not afford this house and spending.But we enjoyed it and now the party is over its time to pay the bill(due).It all comes at a price and as a reality check we all need to brace for tougher times ahead.The govt is like family it got income(our tax paying $$) and expenses(SS,SSI medicare etc).They will balance it at any cost if not us it be our children that be paying for our bills.

By john @ 09/06/09 08:18:15 PMreport abuse

Obamanation

When I used to try to explain to my grade-school daughter and how raising taxes and printing more money isn't the solution, perhaps I was wrong. The "anointed one" and the Dems have re-defined basic economics!

By Bill @ 09/04/09 04:02:06 PMreport abuse

cash for anything

I may be paranoid, but doesn't this seem like the government is trying to buy us? We keep accepting all these giveaways and I can't help but feel if you're getting sucked into this you're selling your soul.

By cookie @ 09/03/09 03:14:30 PMreport abuse

Cash for...

Next they are going to stimulate gentlemans clubs. "Cash for strippers" Your get $100 free ones complement of Obama and the tax payers when you walk in the door for tips / lap dances.

By Dman @ 09/03/09 08:58:54 AMreport abuse

cash for...

How about "cash for Politicians" for everyone we vote out we get a check?

By oldvw @ 09/03/09 01:35:18 AMreport abuse

cash givaways

If you own a business and are forced to lay someone off. But don't know who, go in your parking lot and anyone with an Obama bumper sticker that's the ones.

By sic-of-bama` @ 09/02/09 10:55:35 PMreport abuse

Cash for CRT Tv's?

I'm totally on board as long as I can trade in my engery hog crt tv for a new energy efficient 47" lcd! Come on Pol's, this is your golden opportunity to buy votes. Nobody really needs new appliances, but everyone needs a new car and a flat screen tv.

By drew @ 09/02/09 02:18:43 PMreport abuse

Cash

How about cash for wives? My comment is ridiculous, and so is the motive of our government.

By Mike B from Florida @ 09/02/09 01:55:53 PMreport abuse

I initially was going to respond to the final word of advice that an energy beast is probably confined to the SE and SW. I lived briefly in New England and we kept our refrigerator we moved with from the South, in the basement. One of the throw-ins for the house was a new refrigerator (we bought the model home in the subdivision). Basement was always cool. Then I saw how political all the comments were. Sure, I don't like the use of tax dollars to subsidize industry. But if you think it benefits a particular company - think again. The majority of the purchases for the Clunkers were imports except for Ford Focus. I expect most of the appliances will be imports too. But they are voluntary particpation programs and Energy Star is just a ratings guide not a mandate. But I am glad the level of political debate is way above complacent. Nice.

By naive @ 09/02/09 01:22:14 PMreport abuse

Clark needs to have a national response

Clark, why don't use your show and status to say no more of these bogus programs. You have the credibility to stop these insane programs. Cash for clunker that does not even require a clunker payback to GE is exactly what this is. Even though these appliances aren't even made here anymore. Stand up for us from getting ripped off here!

By jim rivers @ 09/02/09 11:07:16 AMreport abuse

More debt - YEA!

Just what we need now: more debt! I have a wonderful Maytag washer and dryer set that I bought in the late 1960's. They are built like tanks and will run forever. They get stripped and cleaned once a year, new belts and hoses installed, lubed and the white enamel finish is polished to a bright sheen.

They aren't going ANYWHERE!

Washers and dryers sold today are Chinese-plastic-junk, and won't last 5 years. I don't care how much juice my wonderful old appliances eat --they flat-out WORK, and in this day and age, that's something of a miracle to me. Same goes for incandescent light bulbs.

Want to guess who's stocking up bigtime? CFL's suck for most applications, and I'm sure Obama will outlaw filament bulbs soon. Bah! Is nothing sacred anymore?

What's next? Cash for old tube Stereos? I bought mine in the mid 70's and is still sounds great. I don't give a damn how much power it uses, and I don't give a damn if the government approves or not. How about cash for old red LED watches too? Got one of them on my arm. Cash for old Jeeps? Bite me. The only way that Chairman Obama will get my Jeep from me is from MY COLD, CURLED DEAD FINGERS!!!!!

I can't wait until next year. I plan to vote anyone/everyone who supports this crap out of existance.

By Another Old Guy @ 09/01/09 09:33:13 PMreport abuse

Another garbage program

I resent another program to put me and my kids into long-term debt for, in many cases, destroying appliances with useful lives left. End of the empire of debt by voting libertarian or some party w/ fiscal responsibility, not Dems & Repubs

By Ben @ 09/01/09 07:06:14 PMreport abuse

Democrats Graft and Corruption

This is payback to GE Corporation. They have been carrying water for the Democratic party for some time and they expect to be paid back, and will be. MSNBC TV has been the propaganda arm of GE Corp. for some time and they have been promoting the agenda of the leftist Democratic party. Under Bush/Cheney the leftists constantly harped about the connection with Cheney every time that Haliburton received a government contract. But this connection with GE surely is a more clear example of graft.

By Buzz G @ 09/01/09 06:53:01 PMreport abuse

Excellent

This is wonderful news. Its about time.

Thank you Clark

By Socialist Sam @ 09/01/09 04:21:26 PMreport abuse

cash for applicances

will this money be taxable too just like clonker car money was????

By neely @ 09/01/09 04:20:24 PMreport abuse

Spend and stimulate!

When do they start the cash for hookers program? It should be very popular with politicians of all stripes and they could even tie in with Obamacare by offering free samples of Viagra or Cialis.

By Fast Fred @ 09/01/09 03:46:59 PMreport abuse

Enough Already with the Cash giveaways!

The Obama administration has no clue as to what the purpose of the Federal govt is. Maybe before they read the pending legislative bills on healthcare they should go and read the Constitution.

By Dr.F @ 09/01/09 02:46:35 PMreport abuse

great!

More of our tax money well spent!

By Pete @ 09/01/09 02:08:15 PMreport abuse

Listen Live:

Clark On Demand:

Clark's Advice:

Consumer Action Center:

Quick Links:

Clark Media:

Call The Show:

Sep 01, 2009 -- Cash for Appliances likely coming by end of year

What others are saying