Cantor coy on vote for to recoup AIG bonuses (Video)

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) was coy Thursday about whether or not he would personally vote to support the tax bill before the House today that would recoup bonuses paid by AIG executives by way of large surtaxes.

Pressed by liberal pundit Lawrence O’Donnell during an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” this morning, Cantor — the second-ranking Republican in the House — would not commit to vote one way or another on the bill.

“It is terrible tax policy, but I’m telling you one thing: I’m going to get those bonus payments back in,” Cantor said. “I think you’re going to find a lot of bipartisan support for the Rangel bill. Do you think this is good tax policy? No.”

A number of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have expressed their outrage toward the millions in bonuses awarded to AIG executives while the company remained on taxpayer support.

“I am for whatever we can do right now to get that money back into the Treasury,” Cantor said.

An email seeking clarification on Cantor’s position from one of the whip’s spokespersons was not immediately returned.

Cantor, in statements since the announcement of the AIG bonuses, has been quick to criticize Democrats for allegedly having opened the door to the AIG bonuses.

Watch a video of the exchange below: