HOUSE Republican Leader John Boehner

Washington, Mar 17, 2009 - House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today issued the following statement on House Republican efforts to recover AIG executive bonuses, increase transparency in bailout funds, and detail for taxpayers the communications between the Administration and AIG regarding its receipt of bailout funds:

“Americans are rightly outraged by the use of their hard-earned tax dollars to fund the bonuses of AIG executives.  For months, House Republicans have called for more protections to ensure that Congress and – more importantly – taxpayers knew exactly how bailout dollars were being used by financial institutions.  Unfortunately, the Treasury Department has not responded with the urgency that taxpayers demand, which is why AIG was able to slip through the cracks. 

“I applaud the legislation unveiled today by Reps. Erik Paulsen, Leonard Lance, and all of our House Republican freshmen to increase accountability in bailout funds and to recover the AIG executive bonuses on behalf of American taxpayers.  I also support the efforts of Reps. Steve LaTourette and Thaddeus McCotter in offering a resolution of inquiry to give taxpayers a full accounting of the Administration’s communications with AIG about its receipt of bailout funds.  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.”

NOTE: Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) joined Reps. Erik Paulsen (R-MN), Leonard Lance (R-NJ), and other House GOP freshmen today in introducing legislation requiring more accountability in bailout funds and directing the Treasury Department to recoup AIG executive bonuses.  Also today, Reps. Steve LaTourette (R-OH) and Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) filed a resolution of inquiry, which would require the Administration to make public all communications with AIG regarding bailout funds.

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