For a few brief minutes it seemed like the executive pay cap proposal and a provision to recoup some of the bailout money spent on bonuses might actually stay in the stimulus bill. But ha, no, of course not. It looks like they will both die on the operating table. Still that was nifty for a little while when people got to fantasize about sticking it to the richies! [Washington Post, TPMDC]

Aaargh NUMBERS ARE CONFUSING. This morning we have two (2) bits of information regarding what will happen to America’s fabulously wealthy Wall Street executives if and when the stimulus bill becomes a law. But it is sort of complicated, and who knows, these provisions seem to change by the hour, so do not be shocked if the stimulus bill comes out of committee with a brand-new stipulation that bank CEOs get a $15,000 tax credit for their first dozen concubines as long as those concubines are returned in original condition by December 31. Otherwise, everyone gets executed by Dick Cheney. MORE »