Carson Statement on AIG Executive Bonuses
March 16, 2009
March 16, 2009
Washington, D.C. – Congressman André Carsonissued the following statement today following reports that the American International Group (AIG), which has received more than $170 billion in taxpayer funded assistance, will give out more than $165 million in bonuses to its executives.
"This weekend, I was distressed and concerned to hear yet another announcement that AIG executives will be awarding themselves bonuses, despite their continued mismanagement and irresponsibility. It is incomprehensible and completely unacceptable that these executives have chosen to reward themselves while the taxpayers who support them are struggling with record high unemployment and a skyrocketing foreclosure crisis.
"I believe, as do many working Americans, that bonuses are meant to reward successful performance, whether they are given to hourly employees or the highest corporate executives. In these difficult economic times, working families should not see their tax dollars used to benefit executives whose pervasive negligence and greed continues to contribute to our ongoing economic downturn. Over the next week, I will be working with the Obama Administration and my colleagues in Congress to see that these bonuses are blocked, misused tax dollars are fully recouped, and future abuses are prevented."
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