Twenty-six big U.S. companies paid their CEOs more last year than they paid the federal government in tax, according to a study...by the Institute for Policy Studies...including AT&T, Boeing and Citigroup...Some companies cited in the study said it was misleading. They also said they took advantage of tax deductions and credits designed to free up money for companies to spend in ways that stimulate the economy...James McNerney Jr. of Boeing...got $18.4 million in pay last year while his company received a tax refund of $605 million. The study also laid into Citigroup for paying CEO Vikram Pandit $14.9 million while the bank received a net $144 million in tax benefits...Eighteen of the 26 companies received cash back or credits to apply against tax in the future, according to the report. [includes responses from AT&T, Boeing, Citigroup]