Automaker bailout nears dead end

The effort to provide the Big Three automakers with some financial help may be running out of road.
   
For the second day in a row yesterday, the heads of Chrysler, Ford and GM warned Congress of dire economic consequences if the government doesn’t help.
   
And again the plea was met with bipartisan skepticism.   

When senate Democratic leaders acknowledged they didn’t have the votes, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid hit the brakes on the proposed $25 billion loan.
   
But efforts to work out some kind of financial help are continuing.
   
The administration and GOP lawmakers want to take the money from a program to develop fuel-efficient cars, but there’s not much Democratic backing for that.
   
Senators who support the proposed $25 billion in emergency loans to the auto industry say failing to act will have dire consequences.