Fortenberry Demands AIG Accountability 

Lincoln, NE - Today Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, along with 85 of his colleagues, called on Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to demand that insurer AIG reimburse the federal government for any taxpayer funds used for a recent employee retreat at an exclusive California resort. 

“AIG executives need to pay back any taxpayer money used for lavish expenses,” Fortenberry said. "The corporate world, having received bailout after bailout from the taxpayer, must be held accountable by the federal government."

AIG, days after it received an $85 billion loan from the government, reportedly spent nearly $440,000 on employees at the retreat, including costs for luxury rooms, spa treatments, and golf outings. 

Fortenberry has also helped introduce a bill to prevent the CEOs of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from receiving “golden parachutes,” millions of dollars in severance pay.  In addition, he has supported efforts designed to prohibit taxpayer money from compensating financial industrialists whose risky behavior contributed to the nation’s current financial problems.

###