President Bush addressed executive compensation in his "State of the Economy" speech today, delivered from New York City - the financial center of the world. President Bush reported that the economy has seen a faster-than-expected growth of 3.5% in the final quarter of last year. And while he did not go into any specific new laws that may go into effect, he did at least address the issue of executive compensation. He voiced his opinions on lavish salaries and bonuses for corporate executives, standing on Wall Street to issue a sharp warning for corporate boards to "step up to their responsibilities" and to tie compensation packages to performance. The president also recognized the continuing anxieties about the financial future, despite a string of reports that provide some reason for optimism. Finally, he noted that some workers are being left behind in the booming economy and that the disparity between the rich and the poor is growing, which is an issue that would need to be addressed.