It is gratifying to know that private industry in this country will resist attempts by the federal government to take control of their day to day operations.  No doubt, what is happening with our auto industry signals the intentions of the government more plainly than any empty rhetoric ever could.

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In only a few years, the Social Security trustees expect that the balance between money taken in and money paid out will tip.  By 2016, money paid into Social Security will be insufficient to cover current benefits.   At that point, the federal government must begin to repay, with interest, the trillions of dollars it has borrowed from the trust fund.

Remember the Youtube video where the federal budget is represented by $100 in pennies?  Imagine what it will look like when the government finally has to pay back social security.

I would add that if you are renting at an off-airport location, you need to factor in the expense of getting to the car rental office.  Some companies say they will pick you up, but I suspect you might find you have to take a taxi.  Also, make sure you are doing an apples to apples comparison.  Different companies in different locations might have an entirely different set of fees tacked on to your base rental rate.

When my travel dates are definite, I always look around and find the best rate I can online at the big travel sites.  Then I go to Priceline and lowball.  I can generally save a lot of money on car rentals this way.  However, this tip comes with a word of warning.  When you rent through Priceline you pay up front.  If you cancel your trip, you do not get your money back.  Also, if you are planning on flying into Manchester, NH, and your flight gets canceled, you cannot simply divert to Boston.  You will not be able to move your reservation to a new location.

The obvious money saving tips are to check with your credit card company to see if insurance on a rental vehicle is included.  You don’t want to pay for extra coverages through the rental company if you don’t have to.  And unless you know you are going to be running short on time when you bring the car back, you are almost never going to want to prepay the tank of gas.  If you are weighing this one be sure and find out what the rental company will charge you per gallon to fill the car for you.

At what point does “aid” turn into a recurring subsidy?

Opponents of the plan worry about the government’s increased role in taking on and insuring more and more risky loans.  The House has approved the Senate version of the bill, and it is expected to be signed into law very soon.

Last week, the Senate voted down the “cram-down” legislation by a 45-51 margin, ending homeowner dreams of recovering their losses.  To read more, click HERE.

By Jennifer Liberto, CNNMoney.com senior writer

WASHINGTON (CNNMoney.com) — A bill that targets credit card rate hikes and fees is headed for a final showdown in the Senate as key lawmakers negotiate a possible compromise measure.

The issue, which could go to the Senate floor this week, has grown increasingly popular, especially since President Obama and top White House advisers got involved in negotiations a few weeks ago.

“The president has created a strong impetus for immediate action,” said Travis Plunkett with the Consumer Federation of America.

Capitol Hill veterans say they expect the Senate to, at minimum, pass a bill that looks a lot like legislation that the House passed by a 357 to 70 vote last week. But the final shape of the bill depends on negotiations underway among key senators trying to reach a compromise.

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