"House OKs cash-for-caulkers bill for energy upgrades" Hope it passes Senate soon!

[Cha]

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"WASHINGTON — Homeowners could collect thousands of dollars in cash-for-caulkers rebates for renovating their homes with better insulation and energy-saving windows and doors under a new economic stimulus bill the House passed Thursday.
The Home Star bill, passed 246-161, would authorize $5.7 billion over two years for a program that supporters — mostly Democrats— said would have the added benefits of invigorating the slumping construction industry and making Earth a little cleaner.

"Home Star is that solid investment that's going to achieve that hat trick of energy savings for the homeowner, of moving toward a cleaner environment and of creating jobs here at home," said bill sponsor Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt.

Republicans overwhelmingly opposed the bill, and they were able to attach a condition that it would be terminated if Democrats do not come up with a way to pay for it.

The measure has come to be dubbed cash for caulkers, a takeoff on the popular 2009 cash-for-clunkers initiative that rewarded people for replacing gas-guzzling vehicles with more fuel-efficient models."

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http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-05-06-cash-for-caulkers_N.htm