U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Lorain) and George Voinovich (R-Cleveland) expressed disappointment late Thursday following the failure to break the Republican filibuster of legislation to provide bridge loans to the U.S. auto industry.

"It's unfathomable to me that Senate Republicans would turn their backs on millions of American families," Brown said. "During the recent campaign we heard a lot from Republicans about the people that make up the real America and even the Carhartts they wear. I guess that was then."

Voinovich said that Congress had failed to do its job and provide bridge loans to the industry.

"There are millions of hard-working Americans tonight who are worried about their jobs and providing for their families," Voinovich said. "And tonight, Congress failed them."

Voinovich said that he and U.S. Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and had "a true, bi-partisan compromise on the table three weeks ago ready to be voted on, yet it never saw the light of day."

Voinovich, who serves as co-chair of the Senate Auto Caucus, said that the "politics need to end before even more companies fall through the ice." Voinovich called on President George W. Bush to use Troubled Asset Relief Program funds to aid the industry.

"Tonight, I am calling on President Bush to use the already-appropriated TARP funds to provide the oxygen needed while they restructure and become healthy and competitive," Voinovich said. "If we can use the funds for the financial industry, we can use them for the auto industry. We've said all along this money was for Main Street and not Wall Street. I think it's about time we prove it. Time is running out."

Brown accused Senate Republicans of deciding they should "dictate a labor contract for American autoworkers to replace the one agreed to just last year."

"While workers were willing to be part of the solution, they could not and should not shoulder the entire burden," Brown said. "Senate Republicans rejected a plan that had been painstakingly negotiated by the White House to rescue the American auto industry."

Brown said that the auto companies had agreed to "strict oversight and tough measures to protect taxpayers," and that workers "made major concessions."

"As they head off for the holidays, Senate Republicans rejected our best hope for preventing millions of lost jobs in Ohio and across the nation," Brown said.