Obama: AIG bonus bill "rightly reflects" outrage

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Thursday welcomed a U.S. House of Representatives vote to tax bonuses to employees at companies getting federal bailout money, saying it "rightly reflects" outrage at hefty rewards paid by American International Group Inc.

"Now this legislation moves to the Senate, and I look forward to receiving a final product that will serve as a strong signal to the executives who run these firms that such compensation will not be tolerated," Obama said in a statement released while he was visiting Los Angeles.

Responding quickly to deep public anger, the House passed a bill to tax bonuses to employees at companies getting federal bailout funds and recoup most of the $165 million paid to AIG executives.

(Editing by Sandra Maler)