AP: Obama’s Transportation Dept. promotes cash-for-clunkers with selective release of data

Also on the transparency front, AP reports that the Obama administration refuses to release the full data on the cash-for-clunkers program. Without the full information (which would not be hard to release — an agency spokesman says they “don’t have enough time” to give out the numbers) no one can verify any of the very optimistic-sounding claims by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood about how much the program is improving fuel efficiency in America’s auto fleet or how much it is benefiting American auto manufacturers. AP has been trying to get the numbers since last week.

LaHood, the news service reports, “promotes the fact that the Ford Focus so far is at the top of the list of new cars purchased under the program. But the limited information released so far shows most buyers are not picking Ford, Chrysler or General Motors vehicles, and six of the top 10 vehicles purchased are Honda, Toyota and Hyundai.”