Another bailout, another few billion dollars.

The House on Wednesday approved a $14 billion bailout plan for U.S automakers after the White House and Democratic leaders finalized a deal empowering a government “car czar” to force the companies into bankruptcy if they don’t restructure by next spring.

Supporters, including administration officials, Democratic congressional leaders and many independent economists, warned that hundreds of thousands of jobs could be lost and hundreds of related businesses damaged or destroyed if one or more of the U.S. automakers failed.

Another bailout, another few billion dollars.

Supporters, including administration officials, Democratic congressional leaders and many independent economists, warned that hundreds of thousands of jobs could be lost and hundreds of related businesses damaged or destroyed if one or more of the U.S. automakers failed.

"The consequences of defeating this bill would be disaster for the economy that is already in trouble," House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) told his colleagues during the debate. The vote was 237-170, with 32 Republicans joining 205 Democrats in supporting it.

Republicans, Libertarians opposed

Despite the fact that hundreds of thousands of jobs could be lost and hundreds of supporting industries affected if any one of the Big Three automakers in Detroit failed, the Republicans – and the Libertarians – oppose the plan, which means it may not pass through the Senate. The Republicans are concerned that if the auto industry gets more help, other industries will line up on Capitol Hill wanting a slice of the handout pie.