Everyone American who pays even the slightest attention to national politics probably knows that Vice President Dick Cheney was previously the CEO of a company named Halliburton, which has been making money by the truckloads during the Bush administration. Halliburton received huge contracts without having to go through any bidding process in Iraq and New Orleans, and their stock price has soared. Cheney has fended off criticism of his apparent conflict of interest, continually saying that he has no financial stake in the company. That isn't entirely true. He does receive an annual deferred salary between $150,000 and $250,000. He also gets massive stock options that he can exercise and immediately sell for a profit of millions. Still not convinced? Well, he also owns $9 million in Halliburton stock. So why does he still believe he has no financial stake in the company?
Lautenberg: congratulations Halliburton and Vice President Cheney!