In the News

By Aamer Madhani, USA TODAY
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Updated: 02/22/2012 07:00pm

A Delaware bankruptcy court judge approved nearly $370,000 in bonuses on Wednesday for employees of the bankrupt solar panel manufacturer Solyndra.

Solyndra, which had received a half billion dollar taxpayer-backed loan guarantee, had initially sought to dole out about $500,000 in bonuses to 21 employees. They later agreed to scale back the request. Attorneys for Solyndra's laid-off employees had opposed the bonuses, and dozens of lawmakers had spoken out against the bonuses.

Attorneys for Solyndra argued that the bonuses were necessary to retain essential employees as the company sells off its assets

"A significant number of these employees already received pay raises after the bankruptcy was filed because they were staying on to close down or liquidate the business," said Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va. "It's very disappointing."

Griffith was among 53 lawmakers to write President Obama last month and call on the administration to formally oppose the bonuses. The Virginia lawmaker said in a telephone interview that his coalition never received a response to the letter from the White House.