Democratic leaders in Congress gave auto industry leaders 12 days to come back with a plan showing that federal aid would be well-spent.

Democratic leaders in Congress gave auto industry leaders 12 days to come back with a plan showing that federal aid would be well-spent.

An aid package for imperiled automakers is likely to be at the top of the agenda if Congress meets next week.

Democratic Congressional leaders suggested using the financial system’s bailout to help distressed automakers.

The heads of Chrysler, Ford and G.M. and the president of the United Automobile Workers are set to meet House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over aid for the companies.

Several members of the two all-Democratic caucuses characterized the defeated bill as one that would have aided the rich at the expense of middle- and lower-income voters.

After years of acceding to the White House, Republicans in the House found a $700 billion request to be too much.

After years of acceding to the White House on a variety of initiatives despite deep misgivings, House Republicans found the administration’s latest proposal to be too much to swallow.

The financial turmoil has left Washington in the midst of a convulsion that both parties are struggling to understand.

The financial turmoil has left Washington in the midst of a convulsion that both parties are struggling to understand and keep from turning against them.