Nov. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic U.S. congressional leaders put off action on automaker loans until next month, saying company chief executives haven't yet made a case for the help.

General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC must submit viability plans Dec. 2 and Congress would meet the week of Dec. 8 to consider aid, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said. Congressional leaders, not viewing bankruptcy as an option, must see accountability from automakers, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.

``Until they show us the plan, we cannot show them the money,'' said Pelosi, a California Democrat.

The delay is a setback for automakers, which entered the week with Democratic leaders saying Congress and the White House must quickly aid them. After hearings in which auto chiefs were criticized for their salaries and use of corporate jets, those Democrats now say the companies haven't made their case.

``The executives of the auto companies have not been able to convince the Congress or the American people that this government bailout will be its last,'' said Reid, a Nevada Democrat.

Senator Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat, called the delay ``risky'' given what he called automakers' fragile condition. Failure to bail out the Big Three automakers this year leaves General Motors with the possibility of running short of cash before a new Congress can come to the rescue next year.

Levin joined Republicans in advocating a plan to borrow $25 billion for automaker liquidity from funds previously approved for fuel-efficient vehicles. Reid declined to consider the plan, saying it lacked support. Levin said he believed it would get 60 votes in the Senate and that he will advocate it in December.

`We're Disappointed'

``Obviously we're disappointed we're not going to act today,'' Levin said. ``But I'm encouraged that the leaders'' have pledged to address the issue.

Automakers must submit their plan to Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd and House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank. The two men may hold hearings on the plan during the week of Dec. 2, Reid said.

``We intend to deliver a plan to Congress that shows them a viable General Motors,'' the automaker said in a statement.

``Ford welcomes the opportunity to provide our plan to Congress,'' company spokesman Mike Moran said in an e-mail.

The congressional deadlock was triggered by disagreement over how to pay for the $25 billion the Big Three automakers are seeking.

Bank-Rescue Fund

Democratic leaders have demanded that the recently approved $700 billion bank-rescue fund be tapped for the auto aid. Their plan stalled with opposition from Republicans and President George W. Bush's administration.

The administration joined Levin, Missouri Republican Senator Christopher Bond and others pushing the alternative that would tap the fuel-efficiency loans.

``We encourage the Congress to pass it as soon as possible,'' White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said in an e- mailed statement. Bush is ``pleased'' that Democratic leaders agree that help for the industry depends on automakers ``making the changes needed to be viable,'' she said.

GM, the largest U.S. automaker, probably has weeks rather than months left before it runs out of cash without federal aid, said Jerome York, an adviser to billionaire Kirk Kerkorian and former GM board member.

GM said Nov. 7 it may run short of the $11 billion minimum in cash it needs to pay its bills each month by the end of this year and will fall ``significantly'' short of that level by the middle of next year.

Private Jets

Lawmakers faulted the Big Three auto chiefs, who testified at two hearings this week, for not helping their case. Reid pointed out that they arrived in Washington in private jets, and Bond suggested they consider selling those jets.

The chief executives also must spell out the total amount of money they need, which has been ``very elusive,'' Reid said.

Dodd told reporters the auto chiefs were ``disappointing'' by admitting no culpability for their current conditions and for failing to appreciate they wouldn't get money with ``no questions asked.'' They also must state ``a much more concrete vision'' for how the industry will survive, he said.

Senator Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican, said there is ``a lot of skepticism'' in the U.S. about the lack of results from the $700 billion bank rescue package.

``Not only must the auto manufacturers persuade the Congress, they're going to have to persuade the American people,'' Specter said.

To contact the reporters on this story: John Hughes in Washington at Jhughes5@bloomberg.net; Jeff Green in Washington at o jgreen16@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: November 20, 2008 17:33 EST