Is health care the next 'bonusgate'? House asks 52 companies who makes more than $500K a year

CNN ^ | September 1, 2009 | Jennifer Liberto

[2ndDivisionVet]

Earlier this year, public outrage boiled over with news of eye-popping pay to top executives on Wall Street.

White House officials later acknowledged they had misjudged the velocity and volume of furor triggered by "bonusgate," which raised the profile of corporate executive pay.

Could that happen now in health care?

Some of the known salaries are pretty big. Last year, the head of Cigna (CI, Fortune 500) made $11 million and the head of United Health Group (UNH, Fortune 500) made $9.4 million, according to the Corporate Library.

Fifty-two health and accident insurance companies have until Friday to turn over salary details on employees who make more than $500,000 a year.

Last month, Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., head of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, asked for the figures as part of a broader look at how health insurers operate.

And last week, Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV, D-W.Va., who runs the Senate Commerce panel, also asked the biggest health insurers to cough up particulars of premium dollars spent on patient care.

Some policy watchers believe the congressional push has the potential to shake things up. In fact, a controversy over CEO pay could renew debate over a public option, a government-run health insurance plan that would compete with private insurers.

Public option advocates hope outrage over big-time salaries prompts a new rally for their case.(continued)

[2ndDivisionVet]

Count on the Left to use the race card and/or class warfare. It's all they know.

[Caipirabob]

Man, it’s way past time to push back against these fascist A-holes...We’ve got two oceans on eiter side of this country, pick one and shove them in.

[skully]

Count on the Left to use the race card and/or class warfare. It's all they know.

and the race card has failed in the Commiecare debate. So the class warfare card is all they have left.

Libtards are just 2 pump wonders.

[mjp]

If the commies expropriated all of the wealth of the “rich” and divided it up and gave it to the “poor” it would only come to a few thousand dollars per person. And for that small amount, they want to destroy the best country on Earth.

[hosepipe]

Commies!... (Eddie Murphy laugh)...

[2ndDivisionVet]

I vote for the Gulf of Mexico, actually.

[FredZarguna]

Who should we subpoena to discover the net worth of House Members upon entering and retiring from the Chamber? It's incredible how many of them manage to become millionaires on $143,000/yr in a city as expensive as Washington...

[2ndDivisionVet]

"If the commies expropriated all of the wealth of the “rich” and divided it up and gave it to the “poor” it would only come to a few thousand dollars per person."

Not only that, but it would be back in the pockets of the formerly "wealthy" people within six months. There's a reason many of them are rich, unless they inherited the money, and that is hard work and smarts.

[Nervous Tick]

>> I vote for the Gulf of Mexico, actually.

Please, no. Eating all that human refuse will ruin the taste of the redfish and snapper.

[mysterio]

If the insurance companies want to hop in bed with the government, they shouldn't be surprised to find that they're going to have to put out.

Lest you forget that the companies have dedicated $150 million to promoting whatever bill makes it through.

After what they've done, I wouldn't care much if they set the insurance corporate salary at $25k. That's what they get for not studying history.

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

This is nothing more or less than the relentless march of marxism. The goal: control all salaries and prices.

[HwyChile]

The best way to counter it is to post the earnings of professional atheletes, hollywood stars, and other executives. People at the top make a lot of money. So what?

[mewzilla]

EDITORIAL: Bonuses For Congressional Staff [College Repayment Benefits Worth Up To $60,000]

[mewzilla]

Lawmakers Have Long Rewarded Their Aides With Bonuses

[mewzilla]

Imperial Congress Increases Staffer Perk Limits

[CardeadInKy]

What the Company response to Congress should be:
Go pi$$ up a rope A$$holes.

[petitfour]

Are they asking for the salaries of the executives of private companies that administer Medicaid and Medicare on behalf of state governments?

[mewzilla]

Folks, knock youselves out....

Congressional staff salaries

For example, my Critter's staffers for a three month period...

Click here.

[kcvl]

It is none of their damn business what anyone makes except for people who work in the government!

At least, they pay their taxes unlike so many lazy ass Democrats like Charlie Rangel head of writing tax laws!

[Rebelbase]

Years ago I did some work for an exec. in the retirement, assisted care community industry, had to be pulling in $800K/yr. Wanna bet the Marxists go after those guys next?