Reid seeks to lower expectations for auto bailout

The top Senate Democrat sought Wednesday to lower expectations for legislation this week to help endangered domestic carmakers, saying it would be the Bush administration's job to save the industry if Congress doesn't.

"The Congress need do nothing" if it can't agree on a bill to speed $25 billion in new loans to the industry, Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada told colleagues. While he told the Senate he still hoped lawmakers could agree to an auto deal in the "next day or two" of the current lame-duck session, he added: "If we can't do it here legislatively, I would hope that the secretary of Treasury would listen loud and clear because they could take …