From the moment in December that the outgoing Bush administration reluctantly threw a $17.4 billion lifeline to General Motors and Chrysler, it was always likely that one way or another the government would have to provide a lot more money. So it has proved.rnOn February 17th the two struggling carmakers submitted recovery plans to the Treasury Department, as required under the terms of the emergency-loan deal, gm said that it would need at least another $16.6 billion, in addition to the $13.4 billion it has already received, to become smaller, leaner and, it hopes, profitable. It is also seeking $6 billion from other governments to prop up its generally more successful overseas operations. To stay in business, Chrysler asked for $5 billion on top of its existing $4 billion loan.
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