New OMB Filings

One of the most important levers of control that White House has over the Social Security Administration (SSA) is that the Commissioner of Social Security cannot simply order the adoption of a new regulation. By presidential fiat -- and it is an old fiat -- no agency may adopt a new regulation without the approval of the Office of Managament and Budget (OMB), which is part of the White House. The President cannot order the Commissioner of Social Security to adopt a new regulation, but the President can block a new regulation.

SSA must file any proposed regulation with OMB. At least OMB posts the news when SSA files a proposed new regulation with them. SSA recently filed these two items seeking OMB approval:

AGENCY: SSA	RIN: 0960-AF33
TITLE: Revised Medical Criteria for Evaluating Immune System Disorders (804F)
STAGE: Final Rule	ECONOMICALLY SIGNIFICANT: No
** RECEIVED DATE: 01/17/2008	LEGAL DEADLINE: None
AGENCY: SSA	RIN: 0960-AG67
TITLE: Revised Medical Criteria for Evaluating HIV Infection (3466A)
STAGE: Prerule	ECONOMICALLY SIGNIFICANT: No
** RECEIVED DATE: 01/17/2008	LEGAL DEADLINE: None