Dave Roberts says not to call it “cash for caulkers,” so I won’t. It’s officially Home Star, and it provides incentives for home energy retrofits. It’s a great idea, providing jobs and stimulus dollars and providing them in the right place. Unfortunately, it’s in trouble:
The House passed the bill back in May and it’s been sitting in the Senate ever since. Homeowners are putting off retrofits, waiting to see if it will pass. Construction trades are holding off on hiring, waiting to see if it will pass. Members of the Home Star coalition now populate all 50 states and they are holding their breath, waiting.
Now the bill’s on the knife’s edge. There’s been talk of including Home Star in the Small Business Jobs Bill that’s pending in the Senate Finance Committee. A final decision about whether to do so will be made on Wednesday.
….This bill is as close to a no-brainer as will ever grace Capitol Hill, supported by left and right and of benefit to every single Congressional district. Surely if the Senate can do anything any more, it can do this.
If you have a senator — and most of us have two — give ’em a call. A little extra push might make the difference here.
