WASHINGTON — Tense talks continue today on a bill to provide financial aid to the auto industry as the White House pushes tougher consequences than congressional Democrats embrace for failure by the carmakers to bring costs under control.

The Bush administration would allow a "car czar" envisioned in the legislation to force the companies into bankruptcy if they weren't doing enough to cut labor costs, restructure their debt and downsize to stay afloat.

At the same time, the head of the United Auto Workers, Ron Gettelfinger, signaled his union might demand an equity stake in General Motors Corp., if asked to give up more.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said today she supports the concept of a federal overseer of any rescue plan, saying she lacked confidence the heads of the car companies could solve the problem if "left to their own devices."

Pelosi appeared on morning television after a night of intense Capitol Hill discussions aimed at narrowing the differences over a $15 billion bill that would, among other things, rush short-term loans to the industry. The plan would require the Big Three reinvent itself to survive — and that it pay back the government if it doesn't. The package could come to a vote as early as Wednesday.

Pelosi said she thought taxpayers should consider it "a second chance" rather than a bailout.