“Most Americans Favor Government Action to Limit Executive Pay”

Jun 22nd, 2009 • Posted in: Research Report

Republicans and upper-income earners least likely to support idea, Gallup notes

From Gallup:

“Just days after the Obama administration announced a series of proposals seeking more oversight of the salaries and bonus structures for executives at publicly traded companies, a new Gallup Poll finds that most Americans (59%) endorse government action to limit executive pay.

“There has been a great deal of public anger over executives who have received large paydays while their companies teetered on the brink of collapse and needed government money to survive. The most prominent example came earlier this year, when it was revealed that many top executives at insurance company AIG — one of the biggest recipients of government bailout money — were paid bonuses.

“In conjunction with the economic stimulus legislation passed by Congress earlier this year, the Treasury Department has put limits on the pay of executives at companies receiving federal bailout money; their pay plans must now be approved by a federal ‘pay czar’ and their bonuses may be no greater than one-third of their total compensation.

“The latest proposals seek to go further and attempt to change the rules governing how executive pay is determined at publicly traded companies (including those that did not receive bailout money), shifting the power from company management to independent corporate compensation commissions and giving shareholders a voice in the process.

“Seventy-seven percent of self-identified Democrats favor the government’s taking steps to limit executive pay, as do 56% of independents. More Republicans oppose (56%) than favor (42%) the idea….

“Additionally, only a slim majority of upper-income Americans, 51%, favor government limits on executive pay. Support is higher among Americans at lower income levels….”

For the full release from Gallup, June 16, click here.

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1. Ethics Newsline® » Statline » Majority Supports Government Efforts to Limit Exec Pay on June 22nd, 2009 at 4:28 pm:

   [...] more information, see this week’s Research Report.  Print This Story  Email This [...]

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