You thought the AIG bonuses were bad...

aig_logo.pngThe index for this week's Facing South e-newsletter looks at the numbers behind the AIG bailout. If you're not receiving the newsletter yet, please sign up in the box at the upper-right-hand corner of this site. Click on the hot-linked figures to go directly to the sources.



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Amount the U.S. government spent bailing out insurance giant AIG in the past six months: $170 billion

Amount it spent on the Iraq war in fiscal year 2008: $153.5 billion

Percent of the bailout money AIG passed along to other investment firms, banks and municipalities: 30

Amount of federal bailout money AIG used to repay debt to Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs: $13 billion

Amount that went to Paris banking company Société Générale Group: $11 billion

Minimum number of firms receiving federal bailout money that owe back taxes despite signing contracts stating they owed none: 13

Minimum amount these firms, who still have not been identified, owe the government: $220 million

Amount AIG has contributed to federal candidates and parties over the past 20 years: $9 million

Amount received by Sen. Chris Dodd, chair of the Senate Banking Committee and AIG's top recipient: $281,038

Amount received by former President Bush, AIG's second-biggest recipient: $200,560

Amount received by President Obama, AIG's fourth-biggest recipient: $110,332

Amount AIG paid out in retention bonuses to employees: $165 million

Percent of those bonuses that would have to be returned under a tax bill being considered by the House: 90

Date on which U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) demanded an investigation into AIG bonus payouts: 3/18/2009

Date on which DeMint argued against President Obama's proposal to cap executive pay at bailed-out banks, saying "it's a sad day in America when the government starts setting pay": 3/9/2009

Amount of the AIG federal bailout money that is still not accounted for: $84 billion

Additional amount of taxpayer money Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner plans to spend buying so-called "toxic assets" from banks: $1 trillion