LEWISTON – You could say it was running on empty. After taking off this month, the popular Cash for Clunker trade-in program ran out of federal funding.

Friday the House passed $2 billion in emergency funds to keep it driving on.

Some Valley residents have already taken advantage of the first $1billion.

At Rogers Toyota, Sales Manager David Stockwell said the program has helped business.

I feel like Cash for Clunkers and all the other recent government interference in the private sector is a good idea…in the short term. Long term, we’ll see if it sets a bad precedent for America’s economic system.