According to a Social Security Press Office Fact Sheet Jo Anne Barnhart's term as Commissioner of Social Security expires on January 19, 2007. With the end of her term so near it is not surprising that rumors have already started about her future.
There was a report at one time that Barnhart hoped for another term as Commissioner. It is unclear whether she still is interested or if the President is interested. Barnhart's support for the President's Social Security "reform" proposal was half-hearted at best.
It is unclear whether Barnhart, or anyone else appointed by President Bush, could be confirmed as Commissioner. The Commissioner has a six year term. This takes the next Commissioner through the entire term of the next president. Democrats may wish to prevent anyone appointed by Bush from being confirmed so that the next president can appoint his or her own man or woman to the job. There is an easy pretext for blocking confirmation. It seems obvious that Bush will appoint someone who supports his ideas for Social Security "reform", which Democrats call privatization. Even Barnhart publically supported Bush's plan to some extent. Although the Commissioner of Social Security has little role in this debate -- and, indeed, the debate is over for all practical purposes -- Democrats can easily seize upon this as grounds for refusing to confirm someone appointed by Bush.
Regardless of whom the President nominates for Commissioner of Social Security, there will be an Acting Commissioner after January 19, 2007 for a period of at least a few months in 2007, since it will take that long for the Senate to act upon a nomination. That person could end up being Acting Commissioner for two years or more if no one appointed by President Bush can be confirmed as Commissioner.
Earlier this year, the President issued an order setting forth the following line of succession for Commissioner of Social Security:
Deputy Commissioner of Social Security (vacant)
Chief of Staff -- Larry Dye
Deputy Commissioner for Operations -- Linda McMahon
Regional Commissioner, Philadelphia -- Laurie Watkins
Regional Commissioner, Dallas -- Ramona Schuenemeyer
We may become very familiar with Mr. Dye next year, or maybe not, since he may not stay around Social Security if Barnhart leaves, or Bush could alter the succession order. Here is Dye's biography provided by NOSSCR:
There was a report at one time that Barnhart hoped for another term as Commissioner. It is unclear whether she still is interested or if the President is interested. Barnhart's support for the President's Social Security "reform" proposal was half-hearted at best.
It is unclear whether Barnhart, or anyone else appointed by President Bush, could be confirmed as Commissioner. The Commissioner has a six year term. This takes the next Commissioner through the entire term of the next president. Democrats may wish to prevent anyone appointed by Bush from being confirmed so that the next president can appoint his or her own man or woman to the job. There is an easy pretext for blocking confirmation. It seems obvious that Bush will appoint someone who supports his ideas for Social Security "reform", which Democrats call privatization. Even Barnhart publically supported Bush's plan to some extent. Although the Commissioner of Social Security has little role in this debate -- and, indeed, the debate is over for all practical purposes -- Democrats can easily seize upon this as grounds for refusing to confirm someone appointed by Bush.
Regardless of whom the President nominates for Commissioner of Social Security, there will be an Acting Commissioner after January 19, 2007 for a period of at least a few months in 2007, since it will take that long for the Senate to act upon a nomination. That person could end up being Acting Commissioner for two years or more if no one appointed by President Bush can be confirmed as Commissioner.
Earlier this year, the President issued an order setting forth the following line of succession for Commissioner of Social Security:
Deputy Commissioner of Social Security (vacant)
Chief of Staff -- Larry Dye
Deputy Commissioner for Operations -- Linda McMahon
Regional Commissioner, Philadelphia -- Laurie Watkins
Regional Commissioner, Dallas -- Ramona Schuenemeyer
We may become very familiar with Mr. Dye next year, or maybe not, since he may not stay around Social Security if Barnhart leaves, or Bush could alter the succession order. Here is Dye's biography provided by NOSSCR:
Larry Dye, Chief of Staff, has worked in government and politics since 1971. His federal service includes more than 15 years on Capitol Hill. He has worked on both the House and Senate side of the Hill in a variety of capacities, including research assistant, executive assistant, professional committee staff, budget analyst and chief of staff. In the political realm, he has worked on a variety of campaigns. Larry is a sixth-generation Kentuckian and graduated from Centre College of Kentucky. He also was an Eagleton Fellow at Rutgers University before moving to Washington, D.C., to begin his first job at the Republican National Committee.The important thing about this is that Dye is not a career Social Security employee. He is a long time Republican operative.
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