All eyes are on capitol hill as General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler continue to seek $34-billion in emergency aid from congress.

Greenwood Ford president and owner Dan Renshaw says the automotive industry is referring to this request of congress as a bridge loan.

He says he remembers an instance in 1981 when the government loaned Chysler $1.5 billion which was paid back in three years.

Now, he says that needs to happen again for the good of the country and your hometown.

"It's one of those things that are kinda out of your control," says Renshaw.

He goes on say the impact will stretch far beyond dealership lots If congress doesn't bailout the American automotive industry.

"General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda. They all use the same suppliers on their breaks, on their seats," Renshaw explains. "If one of them went under, it would affect the viability of all those suppliers, because if you take 25 to 30% of their business away, these suppliers will have a hard time making it."

So what does it mean for our area if the bailout goes through?

"I think all the dealers will be fine, and hopefully there will be minor layoffs or cutbacks at many of the dealerships, because we do have a good economy compared to the rest of the United States," he says.

Renshaw says one of the forces hurting car sales was the price of gas.

Today, with lower pump prices, he says he's seeing a brighter future for the sale of cars.

If the bailout goes through, he says he's expecting more alternative fuel vehicles on his lot.

"We already have it with the Escape, the Focus, the Chevy Volt. It's just tremendous products that are coming," Renshaw concludes.

Renshaw adds, among the changes being felt by the auto industry's cut backs are two tier wages for new hires in manufacturing.

He says new workers now start out at $14 an hour.