Off subject, but just as sick!

[Guest guest]

April 14, 2006— Soaring gas prices are squeezing most Americans at the pump,

but at least one man isn't complaining.

Last year, Exxon made the biggest profit of any company ever, $36 billion,

and its retiring chairman appears to be reaping the benefits.

Exxon is giving Lee one of the most generous retirement packages in

history, nearly $400 million, including pension, stock options and other

perks, such as a $1 million consulting deal, two years of home security,

personal

security, a car and driver, and use of a corporate jet for professional

purposes.

Last November, when he was still chairman of Exxon, told Congress

that gas prices were high because of global supply and demand.

" We're all in this together, everywhere in the world, " he testified.

, however, was confronted with caustic complaints about his

compensation.

" In 2004, Mr. , your bonus was over $3.6 million, " Sen. Barbara Boxer

said.

That was before new corporate documents filed with the Securities and

Exchange Commission that revealed 's retirement deal and his $51.1

million

paycheck in 2005. That's equivalent to $141,000 a day, nearly $6,000 an hour.

It's almost more than five times what the CEO of Chevron made.

" I think it will spark a lot of outrage, " said , a fellow in

the global economy program at the Institute for Policy Studies, an independent

think tank. " Clearly much of his high-level pay is due to the high price of

gas. "

Exxon defends 's compensation, pointing out that during the 12 years

he ran the company, Exxon became the largest oil company in the world and that

the stock price went up 500 percent.

A company spokesman said the compensation package reflected " a very long and

distinguished career. "

Some Exxon shareholders are now trying to pass resolutions criticizing the

company's executive pay policies. The company is urging other shareholders to

vote against those resolutions.