Democrats, White House Haggle Over 'Car Czar'

(NEWSER) - A bid to provide emergency aid to automakers failed in the Senate tonight, the Washington Post reports. Negotiators nearly completed an 11th-hour deal but got hung up on union wages. Republicans wanted immediate cuts, and Democrats sought to delay them until 2011. "We're not going to get to the finish," said Senate leader Harry Reid. "I dread looking at Wall Street tomorrow. It's not going to be a pretty sight." More»

(NEWSER) - The House tonight passed a $14 billion rescue plan for GM and Chrysler, but the measure's fate in the Senate remains uncertain, the New York Times reports. The bill passed 237-170, largely along party lines. Republicans in the Senate have vowed to block or at least delay its progress because they want more concessions from the UAW and automakers. More»

But key Republicans threaten to block measure in Senate

(NEWSER) - Democrats reached a tentative deal with the White House on a $15 billion rescue plan for GM and Chrysler, but unsatisfied Republicans threatened to block the deal, the Detroit Free Press reports. The measure could be presented to the House tomorrow morning and passed in the afternoon. But the Senate's a different story, and Harry Reid said key Republicans may filibuster if they don't wring more concessions from the automakers and the UAW. More»

Bush supports some aid, but it must be done his way, he warns Dems

(AP) - Using the word "recession" for the first time to describe the US economy, President Bush today demanded that Congress adopt his approach to an auto bailout and require car companies to pay back any federal aid. But he displayed skepticism about the wisdom of new aid, saying he is concerned that some of Detroit's Big Three automakers may not survive. More»

Senate Democrat enlisted to work on compromise package

(NEWSER) - Sen. Chris Dodd welcomed the Big Three CEOs back to the Senate Banking Committee today by declaring his support for an auto bailout, the AP reports. Chariman Dodd said inaction would be akin to playing “Russian Roulette with the economy.” He praised the automakers for making a better case for assistance than the financial industry, which won a $700 billion rescue plan. More»