Financial companies' workers reassured about bonuses

— -- The growing cry on Capitol Hill to prohibit or cancel bonus payments is sending a chill across the big financial services companies that have received government bailout money.

"If Congress imposes a special tax ... it would affect countless number of people who will find it difficult, if not impossible, to pay back the bonuses that they earned," said Citi CEO Vikram Pandit in a memo to employees that Citi provided to USA TODAY.

On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed legislation to place a 90% tax on the bonuses of AIG and other companies that receive federal funds. And Wednesday, the House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing to consider legislation to prohibit any bonus payments or "excessive compensation" at companies that have received money from the government since last fall.

Leaders of several major financial service firms said that they are talking to lawmakers to work out a resolution. Bank of America CEO Kenneth Lewis said in a memo to employees that he has written to members of Congress expressing concern. And JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon held a conference call in which he said he was focused on the legislation, said spokesman Joseph Evangelisti.

However, populist anger over the bonuses continues to rage. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, top Republican on the Finance Committee, appeared on CBS' Face the Nation, where he said: Iowans "just don't understand how people that make $20 million a year can drive a corporation into the ground, go suck off the taxpayers for bailouts, and then give out millions of dollars of bonuses."