Pelosi pushes for more auto industry aid

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for legislation that would enable U.S. automakers to participate in the $700 billion federal bailout.

In a statement released Tuesday, Pelosi requested the House Financial Services Committee, led by Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., "craft legislation to provide emergency and limited financial assistance to the automobile industry under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act."

A lame-duck session to pass the measure could be convened next week, with Democrats pushing the issue on a reluctant White House.

"We'll have to see what Speaker Pelosi is proposing. There are no details, so there's nothing to react to," White House spokesman Tony Fratto said Tuesday in a statement.

"Of course, it's strange that congressional Democrats would choose to ignore the $25 billion program they actually created to assist the automakers. That would be a better

place to start," Fratto said.

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., also pushed for a new bill.