Social Security Official: "inappropriate for officials from the Social Security Administration to hit the hustings in support of the president"

The New York Times > Washington > Democrats Criticize Social Security Official: "By ANNE E. KORNBLUT | Published: February 25, 2005

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 - In the midst of a fractious debate over changes to Social Security, a senior official of the agency that administers the program has been joining Republican members of Congress at public events around the country devised to promote personal retirement accounts.

James B. Lockhart III, the deputy commissioner at the Social Security Administration, said Thursday that he had appeared with four Republican members in recent days to provide information, not to endorse the diversion of some payroll taxes to personal accounts. ...
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Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, said the agency "is supposed to serve all the people and should not be giving the appearance that it is taking sides."

"It is absolutely inappropriate for officials from the Social Security Administration to hit the hustings in support of the president's plan," Mr. Schumer said in a statement. ...