Bush's auto U-turn incites GOP

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By Stephen Dinan and S.A. Miller

Republicans on Friday angrily demanded that President Bush respect the legislative process after the Senate blocked a bailout for the automakers and the White House said that Mr. Bush would consider reversing course and rescuing them using the Wall Street bailout funds.

The automaker bill's failure sparked a full-blown intraparty war, with several Republicans saying the White House scuttled their efforts to win concessions from the United Auto Workers union and one Republican senator warning that if Mr. Bush goes ahead on his own, Washington "might be completely out of control."

"How have we come to a point that Congress -- the institution that represents the will of the American people -- has handed over so much money and authority to the Treasury secretary that, if the democratic process fails to achieve a certain desired outcome, the outcome is simply ignored?" said Sen. James M. Inhofe, Oklahoma Republican.

Still other Republicans, including Rep. Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan, a member of the House Republican leadership, urged Mr. Bush to act to stave off automakers' "impending bankruptcy and its consequent devastation of working families and the depression of our American economy."

Senate Republicans on Thursday led a filibuster and blocked Mr. Bush's $14 billion rescue package, which he had negotiated with Democrats. The bill failed to reach the 60 votes needed to stop the filibuster, with senators voting 52-35 for the bill.

Friday morning, the White House said Mr. Bush would consider using funds from the Troubled Asset Relief Program, created by Congress earlier this year to help financial institutions. Previously, the president had balked at using TARP funds, saying they should not be used to rescue failing auto businesses.

"Under normal economic conditions we would prefer that markets determine the ultimate fate of private firms. However, given the current weakened state of the U.S. economy, we will consider other options if necessary -- including use of the TARP program - to prevent a collapse of troubled automakers," White House press secretary Dana Perino said.

Mrs. Perino also admonished senators for failing to pass a bailout bill.

"It is disappointing that while appropriate and effective legislation to assist and restructure troubled automakers received majority support in both houses, Congress nevertheless failed to pass final legislation," she said.

But senators said the White House hurt their efforts to win concessions from the unions and get a deal done.