White House, legislators say auto bailout deal looks close

— -- Congressional leaders moved closer to an agreement on an interim aid package of at least $15 billion in loans for General Motors and Chrysler that could be considered by legislators as early as Tuesday. Several key issues remain unresolved, however.

"It sounds like we have agreement on those basic principles that would be required for a bill that the president could sign," White House press secretary Dana Perino told reporters Monday.

Asked if the deal could happen as early as Monday, Perino said, "I think it's very likely." Yet, she said that if Congress expects to hold an initial vote on Tuesday, "it seems pretty soon if we haven't seen the language yet."

Among the issues to be resolved is the future of auto industry executives.

Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., chairman of the Banking Committee, said Monday that "it's not my job to hire and fire, but what I suggest is, you need to have new teams in place here ... if you're going to convince the American public" that the financial relief plan is necessary and justified.

Dodd has said General Motors' chief executive Rick Wagoner, for one, "has to move on" as part of a government-run restructuring.

He also said on ABC's "Good Morning America" Monday that figures showing more than a half-million people lost their jobs in November amounts to a "game-changer" in the debate over an aid package.

UAW President Ron Gettelfinger, appearing on NBC's "Today" show, said his union is ready to go back to the bargaining table to help the auto companies, but he also said that workers should not be made "scapegoats" for their problems.

Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., told Fox News Sunday that he believes a deal will be announced shortly. Still, it's uncertain whether a compromise will pass muster with the full House and Senate.