Bill taxing AIG bonuses passes

Bill taxing AIG bonuses passes

STEPHEN OHLEMACHER
Thursday, March 19, 2009
WASHINGTON — Acting with lightning speed, the Democratic-led House has approved a bill to slap punishing taxes on big employee bonuses from firms bailed out by taxpayers.

The vote was 328-93.

Said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: “We want our money back and we want our money back now for the taxpayers.”

Republicans called it a legally questionable ploy to paper over Obama administration missteps.

Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said the bill was “a political circus” diverting attention from why the administration hadn't done more to block the bonuses before they were paid.

The bonuses, totalling $165-million (U.S.), were paid to employees of troubled insurer American International Group, including to traders in the unit that nearly brought about the company's collapse.