'We've got the plans and are ready to go,' Wagoner said. 'We're not starting from ground zero here.' The demands from Washington came after Wagoner and the CEOs of Chrysler LLC and Ford Motor Co. spent two days testifying on Capitol Hill about the need for immediate aid -- a request that disintegrated Thursday when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the auto executives failed to convince lawmakers they deserved the investment. The latest developments mean the automakers might have to wait until January before receiving any aid, if at all. That delay is troublesome for GM, which has warned it might not have enough cash to meet minimum funding requirements by the second quarter of 2009. Another delay 'will be a bit nerve-wracking for us,' Wagoner said, 'but it's the reality we face.' Though Wagoner has previously testified on Capitol Hill, he said comments from some lawmakers exhibited a good understanding of the industry, and an outdated perception among others. 'I thought it was a little more hostile than I might have expected,' Wagoner said. Wagoner reiterated concerns that filing bankruptcy would be risky and could lead to the meltdown of the auto industry. 'Why would you take that risk at a time the economy is teetering on the brink,' he said. 'We need to do everything we can to get the business structured to get through a tough time and onto the future.' You can reach Robert Snell at (313) 222-2028 or rsnelldteom.