Charities Fear New Pay Limits Will Hurt Executive Donations

The evolving compensation landscape isn't limited to Wall Street. General Motors Corp., the cash-strapped Detroit auto giant, will likely need more government aid to avoid bankruptcy after already receiving billions of dollars in loans.

GM Chief Executive Rick Wagoner lowered his annual salary to $1 and relinquished any bonus for 2008 and 2009 as a condition of that aid. In response to lawmakers' fury over big executive paydays, GM also cut total cash compensation for its next four senior executives by 50%.