They Voted For You: The Big Three

West Virginia's U.S. House members ended up divided when that body voted late Wednesday for legislation "to authorize financial assistance to eligible automobile manufacturers, and for other purposes."

Reps. Alan Mollohan, D-1st, and Shelley Moore Capito, R-2nd, helped pass the "Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act" 237-170, while Rep. Nick Rahall, D-3rd, voted against it. He was among 20 Democrats to oppose the measure, while Capito crossed the aisle with 31 GOP colleagues to support it.

The measure would infuse $14 billion "within days into cash-starved General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC," The Associated Press explains. "Ford Motor Co., which has said it has enough cash to make it through 2009, would also be eligible for federal aid."

"Supporters cited dire warnings from GM and Chrysler executives, who have said they could run out of cash within weeks, and concerns that a carmaker collapse would erase tens of thousands of jobs and jolt an already bleak economy," the article said.

But Senate Republicans "are challenging lame-duck President George W. Bush on the proposal, arguing that any support for the domestic auto industry should carry significant concessions from autoworkers and creditors and reject tougher environmental rules imposed by House Democrats," AP also reported.

MetroNews also reports on Wednesday's vote, while the Charleston Daily Mail queried the state's delegation beforehand.