Why did the democrats pass legislation allowing bonuses and now have used taxation to punish the recipients?

Dr. Fell: Why did the democrats pass legislation allowing bonuses and now have used taxation to punish the recipients?
The democrats wrote the legislation concerning this AIG bailout and Chris Dodd said he put in an amendment allowing the doling out of bonuses at the request of the administration. Now they are using taxation legislation as a punishment for what are legal bonuses based on the original legislation. Can you explain what is going on here?

Answers and Views:

Answer by tfoley5000
Because they screwed Congress and now they want the Peoples Money back, They have been warned.

Answer by DebbieP
Because the bonuses were negotiated before the bailout and they figured they would have to fight them in court to keep them from taking place – which would have cost more than the bonuses. So, instead they will tax them at 90% Those bonuses may be legal but it’s disgusting that the taxpayers should have to dish out money for that.

Answer by Ed J
I hope this link helps you out.

Answer by Been there
Because they are politicians who will do whatever makes them look like the good guy. Bottom line- they are idiots.

Answer by Fred Head
Everyone is pointing fingers at this point. Lately, Obama and the democrats are in the business of rewarding bad behavior. But when there’s trouble, Obama puts on a show and opposes it… and people eventually believe him. The politicians will dodge another bullet.

Answer by wildlife_den
I guess cogress wanted to see if they could trust them to do the right thing?

But no way ever can a greedy multi-billion dollar agency like that ever be trusted

Answer by Shaz
So a mistake was made and this is an attempt to correct that mistake, which was assuming that the AIG execs had some semblance of a soul and human charcateristics.

A bonus is paid from company PROFIT by defintion. This is not profit so the bonuses were not legal and not enforceable.

Even if they were legal, it is VERY legal for Congress to tax at a high rate those who make large sums of money from the public taxpayer.

If AIG wants to play the screw ya game according to the technicalities….then according to their rules nothing wrong with Congress playing the same screw ya game using the technicalities of law

Now we find out who made this stupid mistake and go after him/her

Answer by GH
Smoke & Mirrors, which politicians are experts at throwing at the ppl that put them in office.

Answer by Green is the new RED!
This is unconstitutional! Government needs to get out and stay out of private business. They should never have bailed them out in the first place. If anyone is to blame in this mess it is the Government who forced the banks to make the bad loans, contributed money to some democrat campaigns. The Government starting with Chris Dodd and Turbo Tax Geithner should resign! Geithner will be made a scapegoat just wait and see.