At least two lawmakers quizzed Kashkari about retention payments made to top executives by troubled insurer AIG. The company has received billions of dollars in government help, including $40 billion from the Troubled Asset Relief Program. In a recent letter to Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, D-Md., AIG CEO Edward M. Liddy said 168 employees were scheduled to receive retention payments ranging from $92,500 to $4 million.

“Is $3 million a year bonus, a $3 million bonus, is that excessive to a company owned 80 percent by the United States government and as to which over $125 billion of taxpayers’ money has been invested?” Rep. Donald Manzullo, R-Ill., said.

“It is excessive for a failing institution, yes,” Kashkari replied. But he said he was not familiar enough with the AIG payments to determine whether they met Treasury compensation standards.

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