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Geithner Aide Lobbied for CEO Bonuses

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 20, 2009 9:31 PM CDT

(Newser) – The Treasury's new chief of staff once fought for the very executive bonuses Washington is trying to curb. When working for Goldman Sachs, Mark Patterson lobbied against a 2007 bill supported by Barack Obama to help limit Wall Street payouts. The initiative died in Senate committee. "Whatever Patterson had done, he could claim a success," David Corn and Jonathan Stein write in Mother Jones.

Goldman Sachs, the White House, and the Treasury are keeping mum about Patterson's opposition to the bill—but he was registered to work on it. And whatever he did, it clashed with Barack Obama's values. "How Patterson has gone from serving Goldman Sachs to serving the Obama administration is a tale that could use some more transparency," Corn and Stein write.

President Barack Obama, accompanied by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, makes remarks on AIG, Wednesday, March 18, 2009, at the White House.
President Barack Obama, accompanied by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, makes remarks on AIG, Wednesday, March 18, 2009, at the White House.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner makes remarks to small business owners, community lenders and members of Congress, Monday, March 16, 2009, at the White House.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner makes remarks to small business owners, community lenders and members of Congress, Monday, March 16, 2009, at the White House.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Monday, March 16, 2009, in the East Room of the White House in Washington.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Monday, March 16, 2009, in the East Room of the White House in Washington.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
BackAgain
Mar 21, 2009 12:28 PM CDT
Whatever-nice. Can not face the fact that nothing has changed or will change.
Newser001
Mar 21, 2009 3:10 AM CDT
Deeply disturbing news....
Snowleopard
Mar 21, 2009 3:09 AM CDT
Looks like the Obama's Administration may have surrounded himself with too many people too close to wallstreet and the bankers.

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