December 20, 2008

Both the auto and financial industries include some of the largest companies in the country, employing hundreds of thousands.But some business experts pointed Friday to what they regard as a double standard: One industry received a sizable government bailout with relative ease, while the other had to struggle for the help.

The troubled financial industry has received $300 billion of the $700 billion the federal government approved to rescue financial firms. Few stipulations went along with the money - only an understanding that banks would use the money to make loans, the experts said.

General Motors and Chrysler, on the other hand, Friday were promised $13.4 billion in loans - after weeks of negotiating, a pounding by members of Congress and the setting of stipulations. Under the terms, GM and Chrysler must show by March 31 that they can be viable companies.