What seemed intractable was the tremendous drag of Chrysler's legacy costs.

With their labor contracts broken, these companies would be freed of their legacy costs, allowing buyers to step in.

Steel companies say such so-called legacy costs have eroded their profitability.

True, the steel industry does have a special problem: "legacy costs," the benefits steel companies promised to retired workers in happier days.

The big steel companies face heavy "legacy costs" - promises of pension and health-care payments.

Yes, there are "legacy costs" of retirement pay and health care for workers in Detroit.

The problem is not so much legacy costs.

"The problem for G.M. boils down to these legacy costs," he said.

Cities across New York State are only starting to grapple with these "legacy costs" and may face similar financial troubles in the future.

The company was being killed by its legacy costs - the accumulated promises to retirees it had been making for decades.