Dems seek to tie GOP lawmakers to latest AIG bonuses

House Democrats' campaign arm went on the attack Wednesday against GOP lawmakers as the American International Group (AIG) hands out massive bonuses.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) targeted 18 Republicans who voted last year against "clawback" legislation that sought to recoup last year's bonuses handed out to AIG, which is one of the largest recipients of bailout funds.

A template DCCC release will make the argument that 18 target Republicans are "more concerned about Wall Street, than Main Street," as AIG handed out $100 million in bonuses to employees.

“Representative Terry voted to protect bonuses paid to AIG executives with American tax dollars," DCCC national press secretary Ryan Rudominer said in a template hit on Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.), whom Democrats are hoping to target with a better candidate this fall than they had in 2008.

The release also seeks to tie the GOP lawmakers to "outrageous Wall Street bonuses paid for by President Bush's bailout," though a number of Democrats including the Democratic leadership in the House and Senate had worked vigorously to craft and pass the legislation behind the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).

The House passed the clawback bill in a 328-93 vote last March, though the bill did not advance from there. Of the 93 members to vote against the bill, 87 were Republicans.

The 18 Republican lawmakers targeted by the release are: House Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio), House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (Ind.), House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Thaddeus McCotter (Mich.), National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Pete Sessions, and Reps. Michele Bachmann (Minn.), Roscoe Bartlett (Md.), David Dreier (Calif.), Scott Garrett (N.J.), Jeb Hensarling (Texas), Lynn Jenkins (Kansas), Steve King (Iowa), John Kline (Minn.), Blaine Luetkemeyer (Mo.), Dan Lungren (Calif.), Buck McKeon (Calif.), Tim Murphy (Pa.), Erik Paulsen (Minn.), and Terry.