The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing Feb. 4 on the nomination of Andrew Eanes to become deputy commissioner of Social Security and Sen. Orrin Hatch R-Utah, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, used the hearing as an opportunity to launch a verbal assault on Social Security employees.
This was an important hearing, not because Eanes is attempting to become a deputy commissioner, but because if confirmed, Eanes is likely to become the commissioner, the top official, at the Social Security Administration because Carolyn Colvin, the agency’s acting commissioner is expected to retire soon.
Hatch was complimentary of Eanes by saying “Today we will also consider the nomination of Andrew Lamont Eanes to be deputy commissioner of the Social Security Administration. Currently, Mr. Eanes serves as senior advisor in the Office of the Acting Commissioner and has a vast background in management, technology, and a demonstrated history of simply getting things done. We can always use more of that in our government.”
It is nice that Hatch has confidence in the possible new boss of Social Security, but Hatch had some very critical things to say about other Social Security employees portraying them as whiners who want more taxpayer money to do their jobs.
In regard to funding, “the Social Security Administration, or SSA, has fared better than most agencies in terms of budget allocations. Of course, we generally don’t hear that from them. Instead, we tend to hear persistent claims from many SSA officials that any and all problems at the agency are caused by Congress’ supposed refusal to provide adequate funding,” Hatch said.
It is unfortunate that Hatch does not see that Social Security’s staffing has not kept up with the increased number of people Social Security serves due to an aging Baby Boom Generation. All Hatch needs to do is look at how wait times for Social Security hearing wait times only continue to increase making disabled workers wait well more than two years before they can start collecting disability benefits.
To learn more about the confirmation hearings click here.
