UPDATED, 5:15 p.m., with details on Simpson's vote.

The House of Representatives voted Friday to pump an additional $2 billion into the popular "cash for clunkers" car rebate program.

And this time around, 2nd District Rep. Mike Simpson voted for the plan.

Simpson had initially opposed the program, which offers consumers $3,500 to $4,500 rebates if they trade in older, gas-guzzling cars for new, fuel-efficient models. Heavy consumer demand had exhausted the initial $1 billion for the program, which launched a week ago.

Simpson supported the $2 billion for several reasons, spokesman John Revier said this afternoon.

• The money will come from a renewable energy loan guarantee program that isn't being fully utilized, so the additional funding will not compound the deficit. So this isn't new money and isn't just being added on top of the existing deficit or debt.

• The program is now law, and Simpson believes it would be unfair to shut out some consumers or auto dealers by leaving the program unfunded.

• Based on the early evidence, Simpson believes this is one of the few government stimulus efforts that is actually working.

First District Rep. Walt Minnick, a Democrat, again supported the cash for clunkers program.

The 316-109 vote would siphon the additional $2 billion out of the $787 billion economic stimulus package passed in February, over the objections of Simpson and Minnick.

The House-passed measure now goes to the Senate.

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