">Forum Views ()
">Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
AIG storm rages in Washington
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Search
Search:
AIG storm rages in Washington
AFP - Wednesday, March 18
WASHINGTON (AFP) - - Insurance titan AIG, which received billions in US bailout funds, is to pay back the government for hefty bonuses shelled out to top executives, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Geithner's statement comes as revelations about the staggering bonuses which were awarded to employees of the giant US insurer fueled a political firestorm.
The controversy engulfing bailed-out American International Group threatened to turn nasty amid reports of death threats against AIG workers, and posed a critical test of President Barack Obama's economic revival plans.
Lawmakers had been looking at punitive tax measures to reclaim the bonuses paid largely to the same London-based financial products traders who brought ruin to AIG and helped to ignite the global financial crisis.
Senator Charles Grassley , the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, refused to disavow a remark that AIG executives should go the way of disgraced Japanese leaders in choosing resignation or suicide.
The Iowa lawmaker declared that "from my standpoint, it's irresponsible for corporations to give bonuses at this time, when they're sucking the tit of the taxpayer."
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo disclosed that last Friday, AIG had paid out more than 160 million dollars in bonuses to staff at its financial products unit.
Cuomo, who slapped subpoenas on AIG Monday as part of a probe into Wall Street excess, said 73 AIG employees had each received bonuses of one million dollars or more.
The top 10 recipients were paid a total of 42 million dollars, with one executive getting 6.4 million alone. And 11 executives quit AIG despite being paid "retention" bonuses of at least a million dollars each to stay.
Government-appointed AIG boss Edward Liddy, who faces a grilling at a forthcoming congressional hearing, was sent a letter from Senate Democrats demanding he renegotiate the employees' bonuses or else legislation would be pushed through to tax them at more than 90 percent.
"Given the fact that it was the employees in this unit that brought your firm to the brink of bankruptcy and caused such havoc in the world, rewarding them is not only morally reprehensible, but entirely indefensible on any business grounds," the letter said.
AIG was saved from bankruptcy last September because the government deemed its intricate web of ties with banks worldwide posed an imminent risk of financial meltdown not just for the United States but globally.
With Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner accused of bungling the controversy, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs meanwhile said Obama had "complete confidence" in his economic overseer.
Gibbs added that "everybody is offended by every aspect" of the bonuses at a time when millions of Americans have lost their jobs in the worst recession for decades.
Republicans turned up the political heat on Obama, who must ride the public fury against Wall Street while shoring up congressional support for forthcoming measures to prop up tottering banks.
House Minority Leader John Boehner said Republicans had long been calling for more protections to ensure that taxpayers know how 700 billion in bailout dollars are being spent by financial institutions.
"It is time for the administration to provide Congress and American taxpayers an exit strategy that will get the federal government out of the private sector and out of the bailout business," he said.
Barney Frank, the Democratic chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, noted that the US taxpayer now controls 80 percent of AIG's equity after pumping 180 billion dollars into the company.
"I think the time has come to exercise our ownership rights," he said, as a new poll by CNN and Opinion Research Corp. showed strong public support for the outright nationalization of distressed banks.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (7 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Enlarge Photo
Senate Finance Committee member Charles Grassley, seen here in 2007, who has demanded that top executives at bailed-out insurer AIG show "contrition" but said his suggestion that they resign or kill themselves was just political talk.
Most Popular – Top Stories
Viewed
AIG storm rages in Washington
Arrest warrant issued for Lindsay Lohan
For sale: nagging wife, very high maintenance
Miniature carnivore dinosaurs roamed North America
Injured actress Richardson flown to US: hospital
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Wednesday, 18 March 2009 Israel to keep pressure on Gaza after talks stall
| International
|
Verdict in Austria incest trial expected Thursday
| International
|
Bashir to be held responsible for aid ouster: U.S.
| International
|
Nations line up to slam big powers' UN veto rights
| International
|
U.S. says Iran increasing activity in Latin America
| International
|
Apple fills some gaps with new iPhone features
| Technology
|
Google to roll out free tool to help save energy
| Technology
|
U.N. advises governments how to stop Internet drug peddling
| Technology
|
Expedia shares gain on Google takeover talk
| Technology
|
Discovery sues Amazon's Kindle
| Technology
|
Bob Dylan's toilet smell blows in the wind
| Entertainment
|
Andy Warhol's Wide World comes to Paris
| Entertainment
|
Opposition leader takes power in Madagascar
| International
|
Israeli PM says Hamas price for soldier too high
S.Korea warns of action if North blocks border again
| International
|
Iraq govt calls for death sentences to be ratified
U.N. official says U.S. demonizes Iranian leader
| International
|
Olmert: Israel rejects Hamas demands for soldier
Case packed with TNT found in Tibet capital: report
| International
|
AIG storm rages in Washington
Iraq Qaeda group slams Obama withdrawal as ploy
Japan to ready defense against North Korea rocket: Kyodo
| International
|
Injured actress Richardson flown to US: hospital
Israel-Hamas prisoner swap talks sink
Pope in Africa reaffirms no condoms against AIDS
| International
|
Act now on floods, drought, says forum
Israel says Gaza blockade goes on until soldier freed
Chavez readying artillery for Americas summit
| International
|
Iran: Leading candidate vows Islamic-based reform
Colombian FARC rebels free Swedish kidnap victim
| International
|
Blind Iraqi girl struggles despite offers of help
U.S. increases pressure on Sudan after expulsions
| International
|
Theory combats accepted wisdom on Dead Sea Scrolls
Iraq urges execution of Saddam-era officials
Act now on floods, drought, says forum
Apple unveils App options in iPhone software peek
| Technology
|
Top UN official says US demonizing Iran leader
Google updates Chrome Web browser to boost speeds
| Technology
|
Obama to name Sudan special envoy: official
Sun Micro takes on Amazon in cloud computing
| Technology
|
Seattle Post-Intelligencer dies, reborn online
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 591
Group asks U.S. FTC to probe Google privacy safety
Chavez preparing 'artillery' for Americas summit
Discovery sues Amazon's Kindle
Beshir 'responsible' for deaths in Darfur: Clinton
New iPhone software has copy-paste, no Flash
Group asks U.S. FTC to probe Google privacy safety
| Technology
|
Apple unveils App options in iPhone software peek
St. Patrick's revelers in US fete all things Irish
Google News, EPA members in partnership agreement
Colombian rebels free Swedish hostage: official
Correction: Liberians-Waiting Game
U.N. advises governments how to stop Internet drug peddling
Moscow court refuses to stop Khodorkovsky trial
Study cautions against relying on Arab kingdom
McCain gives "Twitterview" to ABC
Google to roll out free tool to help save energy
Man held in China for posting conflict rumours: report
Nokia to cut another 1,700 jobs worldwide
Indonesia cleric detained for marrying 12-year-old
First sighting of humpback whale in Hong Kong
Lion shot after escaping Australian zoo enclosure
Natasha Richardson seriously hurt in ski fall
| Entertainment
|
SKorea to beef up security at overseas missions
Stacy Keach hospitalized
| Entertainment
|
8 foreign skiers rescued from Japanese slope
Official's pro-China claim causes uproar in Taiwan
Transformers 3 director corrects release date
| Entertainment
|
Chinese Premier Wen to meet NKorean premier
Stacy Keach hospitalized
DeGeneres to play Mother Nature in comedy
| Entertainment
|
US warns of drink-spiking in Tokyo bars
'Sopranos' creator David Chase returning to HBO
NKorea refuses US food amid missile standoff
Man held at Beijing airport with 87kg of marijuana
Huiyuan shares halted amid doubts about Coke deal
South Korea unemployment rises to 3.9 pct: govt
Richardson's family gathers near injured actress
China forex reserves drop 30 bln dlrs
Anoop Desai goes country, wows Cowell and company
SKorea expected to initial EU trade pact in May
DeGeneres to play Mother Nature in comedy
China Mobile profit expected to grow strongly
Natasha Richardson seriously hurt in ski fall
Coca-Cola may abandon China juice acquisition: FT
Venezuela rethinks cheap gasoline
Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Stacy Keach hospitalized
Japan holds rates steady, boosts bond purchases
'Schooling Giacomo' teaches life-affirming lessons
S.Korea KAMCO to buy $876 mln savings banks debt
Review: Roberts and Owen crackle in `Duplicity'
SKorea says it will respond if North blocks border
LA dance company gets $20 million gift
Broadway theaters to dim lights for Ron Silver
NATO says 4,000 extra troops needed for Afghan poll
| International
|
NATO recommits troops for Afghan polls
Lebanese president rules out direct Israel talks
| International
|
Russia to decide on air defence for Iran: report
Austria's Fritzl admits murder and enslavement
| International
|
Pakistan dismisses report US may widen covert war
CORRECTED: Vatican defends pope condoms stand, criticism mounts
| International
|
British unemployment hits 12-year high
Israeli army uses PIs to spy on suspect dodgers
Man blows himself up in failed Yemen attack: source
| International
|
Green tea, mushrooms cut breast cancer risk: study
Iran's reformist challenger to Ahmadinejad
Fritzl changes plea to guilty to all charges
Sri Lanka war rages, more than 640 make boat escape
| International
|
Kabul bomb wounds three, 33 rebels killed
Kuwait to name crown prince as premier: reports
| International
|
Sudan's Bashir rallies Arab tribesmen in Darfur
| International
|
IBM in talks to buy Sun Microsystems
| Technology
|
Obama may visit Russia in July: report
In spite of hunger, NKorea refuses US food aid
Marvel, startup ink online gaming deal
Marvel, startup ink online gaming deal
| Technology
|
IBM in talks to buy Sun Micro: report
Maxis commits $10 billion to India mobile unit
| Technology
|
Sun Micro takes on Amazon in cloud computing
Ontario to help emerging tech firms raise capital
| Technology
|
Seoul rules out closing economic zone in North
Afghan leader warns against international meddling
China PM talks nuclear with NKorea premier
China cans Coca-Cola bid for juice-maker
Moderate quake hits off Indonesia: officials
Thai PM vows to slow drug trade within 6 months
Pakistan records c/a surplus of $146 mln in Feb
Japan steps up fight against economic downturn
Eni to double Pakistan output in 5-6 years
US urges citizens to avoid Tokyo nightlife area
Taiwan to conduct study on capital gains tax
Four bombs found in Thai govt stronghold: police
Thailand's exports slide for fourth month
Japan court rules nuke plant is quake-proof
China shares rise on commodity gains
Made-to-order magazine lets readers choose
40,000 Philippine seamen could lose jobs: official
Author Pat Conroy entering SC Hall of Fame
Asia, Europe markets edge higher after US rally
First celebrity cast off of `Dancing'
Pakistan's NBP says '08 net profit falls 18.8 pct
Mystery shrouds Patagonia sinking of gold laden ship
Sri Lankan economic growth cools in 4th quarter
Fredo Viola: from internet buzz to music stores
WRAPUP 2-S.Korea sheds most jobs in 5 yrs as slump deepens
Humble Dutch clog stands the test of time
'Slumdog Millionaire' to hit Chinese screens
"Transformers 3" director corrects release date
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights