[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 18, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H3530]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      AIG, BONUSES, AND THE FRENCH

  (Mr. POE of Texas asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, AIG took bailout money and then gave 
millions to executives in bonuses. Now Congress is bent out of shape 
about it, and rightfully so. But the truth is in the last stimulus bill 
that Congress quickly passed with little or no debate was an attached 
amendment to allow AIG to do exactly what they did--give out high-
dollar bonuses.
  Congress is responsible for this irresponsible spending and must deal 
with the consequences. To make matters worse, AIG gave bailout money to 
foreign banks, like in France. The French are the same people who 
vilify the United States, blame the world's problems on us, and have a 
disdain for everything American.
  Mr. Speaker, I think the U.S. has bailed out France enough. We helped 
save France in World War I, saved them again in World War II, and took 
over in Vietnam after they failed there--but with little or no 
gratitude from the French.
  And AIG also gave billions to German and English banks. We can't 
afford to give away taxpayer money and reward failure while making 
working Americans pay for all of this nonsense. ``No'' to more 
bailouts, foreign or domestic.
  And that's just the way it is.

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