And it does n't strengthen our economy when government decides how much each job is worth . In America we leave that job to markets . So what 's the answer ? To strengthen transparency , all aspects of CEO pay and perks should be fully disclosed on a regular basis . This should include airplanes , cars , golf-club memberships , bonuses , stock options , retirement plans and salaries -- in short everything that a common-sense person would consider part of a CEO reward package . See Fiorina discuss exec pay , including her own '' To strengthen accountability , all aspects of CEO compensation should be voted on by shareholders on an annual basis . Ultimately , it is the owners of a company who must determine whether a CEO 's rewards are justified by a CEO 's performance . And because the American taxpayer is now a partial owner in many companies , the government can get a vote as well -- in some cases a very sizeable vote . In addition , `` clawback provisions , '' which require a CEO to return compensation to shareholders if promised results are n't delivered , should be
Editor 's note : Carly Fiorina is chief executive of Carly Fiorina Enterprises and former chief executive of HP . She was an adviser to Sen. John McCain 's presidential campaign last year . Carly Fiorina says outrage at Wall St. pay is justified but salaries should n't be set by government . -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Americans are outraged over excessive CEO pay and perks . That outrage is justified , particularly when American taxpayers are footing the bill . Our capitalist system works best when there is transparency and accountability . There has been too little of both on Wall Street . Inevitably , the president and Congress are now attempting to respond to taxpayer anger and restore some `` common sense , '' as President Obama recently declared , to CEO compensation . The proposed solution caps top executive pay at $ 500,000 for institutions that have received bailout money . I do n't think this is the answer , although it is an understandable reaction . It 's arbitrary : Why not $ 400,000 or $ 600,000 ? It 's incomplete . It only applies to institutions that will receive more government assistance going forward .