September 1, 2009
Whereas the Biggest Bailed-Out Bank of them all, AIG, is still trying to reward the very people responsible for jeopardizing the company with more than $100 million worth of bonuses
Whereas Bailed-Out Bank CitiGroup informed the U.S. Treasury Department that energy trader Andrew J. Hall, with a pay package of $98 million, and a second unidentified trader who was paid more than $30 million, were exempt from pay Czar review
Whereas Bailed-Out Bank Goldman-Sachs paid out $4.82 billion in bonuses in 2008, some of it coming from the $10 billion it received from taxpayers to keep its doors open
Whereas Bailed-Out Bank Wells Fargo Co. increased base salaries for top executives to get around government rules capping bonuses for firms receiving bailout funds
Whereas these same banks are spending our money lobbying against creation of a federal watchdog to ensure the financial industry abides by a set of rules that are fair and transparent to benefit both consumers and main street businesses
Whereas many of the bailed-out banks have received $38.5 billion in exorbitant overdraft fees from the most financially-stretched American citizens who didn't cause the financial crisis but who, to add insult to injury, have been conscripted to support banks' bad practices
We the bailers-out hereby call on SEC to empower shareholders to approve only such pay packages for executives of bailed-out banks as to:
Reflect an honest days work for an honest days pay.
Include bonus pay only if it is merit-based and structured around transparent goals.
Structures bonuses and other portions of the pay package to reward long-term value of the institution or business over short-term gain in stock prices.
And, We the bailers-out hereby call on the Senate to act swiftly to rein in CEO pay abuses and self dealing.