Bill Introduced To Restore ALJs To Competitive Service

     From Government Executive:

A pair of senators is looking to reverse a recent executive order issued by President Trump to remove administrative law judges from the competitive service, which critics have warned could strip the executive branch employees of their independence.

President Trump in July issued an executive order that would allow agency heads to pick whomever they wish to be administrative law judges, provided they are active lawyers or judges. Previously, the Office of Personnel Management independently vetted candidates, and then submitted to agencies a short list of potential names.

The new bill, introduced by Sens. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, would restore the government’s 1,900 ALJs—most of whom work for the Social Security Administration—to the competitive service. The reversion would ensure OPM makes hiring recommendations based on “qualifications and competence,” the senators said, rather than any arbitrary justification political appointees choose. ...

Astrue And Fichtner Nominated For Social Security Advisory Board

     The President has nominated former Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue and Jason Fichtner to become members of the Social Security Advisory Board (SSAB). Astrue is well known to readers of this blog. Fichtner recently called for increasing Social Security's full retirement age and cutting cost of living adjustments as well as an increase in the F.I.C.A. tax the supports Social Security's trust funds.

     The SSAB has no direct role in the management of the Social Security Administration and only limited influence. SSAB members often testify at Congressional hearings on Social Security matters but, again, their influence is limited.

Discouraging Status Of FY Appropriation

     Congressional work on the appropriations bills needed to fund the government in Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, which begins on October 1, 2018, has proceeded along what used to be a normal track, with each House of Congress passing separate appropriations bills for broad sectors of the government with differences to be ironed out in a conference committee. The conference committee hasn't finished its work. I'm not sure it's even been appointed but things are far ahead of recent years where agencies worked on continuing resolutions (CRs) well into the new fiscal year and sometimes for the entire fiscal year.

     This does not mean that there will be no government shutdown or prolonged CR this time around. Congress can only do so much. There's another branch of government whose headquarter is at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue. Some experts think there will be a government shutdown, mostly over the President's insistence on tens of billions of dollars in funding for a border wall. Even most Republicans aren't eager for that wall, much less a government shutdown over it, but the President believes it vitally important. He may even think it's just what he needs to get Republican voters out to the polls in November. I'd call that nuts but I'm not a Republican voter.

     Whenever an appropriation bill gets passed, it's almost certain to be bad news for Social Security. Both the House and Senate passed appropriations bills give the Social Security Administration $11 billion in operating funds, which is what the President requested, but which is $400 million below the appropriation for the current fiscal year. The cut is even worse than it sounds, however. You have to consider inflation which is about 2.9%. Social Security needed an increase of about $330 million just to stay even. The agency will effectually receive a 6.4% cut in its operating budget. That's going to hurt.

     If you want the best case scenario, it would be that despite the appropriations progress already made, we'll still end up with a CR and that the CR will extend past the start of the new Congress next January and that Democrats will control one or both Houses of Congress which will allow them to make demands with a higher appropriation for Social Security being one of their demands. I don't think that's going to happen. If nothing else, Democrats winning one or both Houses of Congress would concentrate the attention of Republicans who would rush to enact appropriations bills before their power diminishes.

OIG Says It Needs Valet Parking Spaces

     Social Security's Office of Inspector General (OIG) is seeking four valet parking spaces for government vehicles in New York City. Needing parking spaces I understand but valet parking spaces?

     Update: The title of the contracting notice now reads: Four Self-Park Garage Parking Spaces.

Disability And Survivor Benefits Matter

     According to a study by Social Security's Office of Chief Actuary, the chances of living to full retirement age without becoming disabled is 64% for males and 70% for females born in 1998. It is the same for females born in 1966 but only 58% for males born in 1966. Despite the improvement, that's still a lot of death and disability before full retirement age. People dramatically undervalue the importance of Social Security disability and survivor benefits. Yes, it can happen to you.

Who Knew?

     When I train new attorneys at my firm in Social Security law, I always emphasize the need to be on the outlook for men entitled to widowers benefits. Here's why.

ALJ Maher Kills Himself After Armed Standoff With Police

     From Heavy.com:

A Miami federal judge [employed by the Social Security Administration], already under investigation, armed and barricaded in his home with family members as possible hostages surrounded by tactical police has reportedly shot and killed himself, a veteran Miami crime journalist reported.

Federal administrative law judge Timothy Maher was arrested last week for threatening the mother of his child with a rifle and was this week alleged to have threatened a co-worker in a federal building.  ...

It was reported that police negoiators could be heard saying, “Anybody living or inside the residence at 23985, if you can hear me, all I need you to do is turn some lights on and off anywhere in your house so my team can see that you’re OK.”

There were conflicting reports of who was inside the home, but reports said police could be heard calling out to the house through a megaphone for a 13-year-old girl believed to be inside be released. ...

ALJ Makes The Big Time

@_FloridaMan

     Social Security's Administrative Law Judge Thomas Mayer, who's been discussed here a good bit lately, has really made the big time. He's the topic of a @_FloridaMan tweet! 

     If you're not familiar with @_FloridaMan, well, you should be.