We recently learned of the passing of former President Georg H.W. Bush. As the tributes ramp up for the former president it is interesting to look at Bush’s impact on Social Security. During his four years in office, Bush took many steps to protect and enhance the agency’s programs. Below are just a few things that were orchestrated at Social Security during his presidency.
The Social Security Boss
In 1989 Bush appointed Gwendolyn King commissioner of Social Security, the first black woman to hold the post. King served in President Ronald Reagan’s administration prior to being appointed by Bush. King served during an interesting time for Social Security. There were the typical ceremonial duties like dedicating Social Security’s new Teleservice Center in Baltimore Maryland. The Teleservice Center was a nationwide expansion of Social Security services that allowed Americans to connect with employees about the agency’s program. Additionally, King fought for the rights of her employees at Social Security. On October 4, 1989 she was identified by the American Federation of Government Employees Local 1923 for agreeing to reconsider the need for on-site daycare for the employees of the agency.
Significant Events Under Bush and King
- December 1, 1989: The Social Security Administration was among ten federal executives and organizations selected by the Office of Personnel Management to receive the 1989 Profiles in Excellence Award, the recognition intended to showcase the best examples for others in the federal work force to emulate.
- December 15, 1989: President Bush barred an Office of Management and Budget planned reduction in the Social Security Administration’s staff. The agency which provides services to 40 million beneficiaries, saw its staff reduced to 63,000 from 80,000 over the past five years.
- December 25, 1989: The Social Security Administration moved to resolve the labor disputes that have resulted in 1,600 complaints over which union activities must be paid for by SSA.
- January 1, 1990: The Social Security Administration announced approval of a plan to refund Medicare overcharges to nearly 27 million elderly people due to a problem created by Congress’s late action in repealing the catastrophic health-care program. Seniors will be reimbursed for the unfair deduction with two special $10.60 checks, one in February and another in April.
- July 26, 1990: President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 into law. Commissioner King initiates a pilot project to install voice-activated computer equipment for SSA employees with disabilities.
- November 5, 1990: President George H. W. Bush signed the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, which fully protects Social Security and takes the program off line from the rest of the Federal budget.
- December 1990: SSA issued regulations revising and expanding its medical standards for assessing mental impairments in children by incorporating functional criteria into the standards and adding such impairments as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
- March 18, 1991: Commissioner King and AFGE Local 1923 President John Gage cut the ribbon at the dedication of the Social Secur-A-Kiddie Child Care Center at the Metro West Building in downtown Baltimore, MD. The facility opens for business on April 1.
