'There has been a genuine outreach of support from various places, and we deeply appreciate it. If a grassroots effort forms to support the loans, it will because people on their own want to support the American companies, and this idea seems to have a life of its own,' Martin said. 'We're not involved in organizing the effort.' Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and other allies of automakers -- including the lead Republican sponsor of a compromise bill to get them $25 billion in emergency loans, Sen. Christopher 'Kit' Bond of Missouri -- have urged automakers not to fly back in corporate jets. 'Symbolism is important,' Granholm said Sunday. Several members of Congress -- including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid -- also criticized the decision. 'It's almost like seeing a guy show up at a soup kitchen in high hat and tuxedo,' Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-N.Y. said last week. 'I mean, couldn't you all have downgraded to first class or jet-pooled?' GM announced last week it had given back two of its seven leased corporate jets, and would turn in two more -- and has sharply cut back on corporate travel. Ford Motor Co. also announced it is considering the sale of some or all of its five corporate planes. Last year, GM spent $256,793 on personal use of the company's aircraft by CEO Rick Wagoner, Chief Operating Officer Fritz Henderson and Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, according to a regulatory filing. GM's board of directors encourages the three to use corporate aircraft for personal and business travel -- the automaker has operations in 34 countries -- and allows for spouses to travel. Ford Motor Co., meanwhile, spent $752,203 last year on CEO Alan Mulally's personal use of the company's aircraft, according to a regulatory filing. The Dearborn automaker required Mulally to use the company's aircraft last year for all business and personal travel for security reasons, according to a regulatory filing. Mulally's family and guests also were allowed to accompany him. Ford also let Mulally's wife, children and guests travel on corporate aircraft for personal reasons without him. The move was made to 'ease the burden of Mr. Mulally moving to Southeast Michigan and away from his family in Seattle, Washington,' according to the filing. Chrysler LLC no longer owns any corporate jets. It started selling its aircraft in 2001 as part of turnaround efforts while it was still part of DaimlerChrysler AG. The last two planes were sold in January of this year, said spokeswoman Shawn Morgan. Chrysler now leases or charters planes per trip, as needed, Morgan said, and usually tries to make sure it is full for all trips. Detroit News Staff Reporter Robert Snell contributed. You can reach David Shepardson at (202) 662 - 8735 or dshepardsondteom.