AP: Deal reached on auto industry bailout – “in principle”

Outside of the continuing wave of Blago news, this is the big story:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Weary Democratic congressional leaders and White House officials agreed in principle Tuesday on a $15 billion bailout of U.S. automakers that would give the government extraordinary power to restructure the failing industry. But the rescue faced snags as Republicans raised deep concerns.

Congressional aides and a senior administration official said the proposed deal would speed the loans to Detroit’s struggling car companies and place a “car czar” named by President George W. Bush in charge of overhauling the auto industry. Congress could vote on the plan as early as Wednesday and the money could be disbursed within days.

A breakthrough came when negotiators reached a compromise to require the czar to revoke the loans and deny any further federal aid to automakers that don’t strike a deal with labor unions, creditors and others to ensure their survival by next spring — essentially pushing them into bankruptcy.

This parody ad (h/t: James Joyner) of the Big 3 pretty much sums up my thoughts on the whole pathetic, preventable story.