Mike Levin: “The amendment provides that it is the sense of the Senate, based on findings that, ``(1) currently businesses can deduct…”

“The amendment provides that it is the sense of the Senate, based on findings that, ``(1) currently businesses can deduct the value of stock options as business expense on their income tax returns, even though the stock options are not treated as an expense on the books of those same businesses; and (2) stock options are the only form of compensation that is treated that way. It is the sense of the Senate that the Committee on Finance of the Senate should hold hearings on the tax treatment of stock options.'' Mr. President, for the past several years, the Wall Street Journal has published a special pull-out section of the newspaper with an annual analysis of the compensation of top corporate executives. Last year's section had this headline: ``The Great Divide: CEO Pay Keeps Soaring--Leaving Everybody Else Further and Further Behind.'' Business Week featured this cover story on its 47th annual pay survey: ``Executive Pay: It's Out of Control.''”