Cliff Stearns: “like most Americans I was upset to learn that $32 million for bonus performance awards was given out by the Social…”

“like most Americans I was upset to learn that $32 million for bonus performance awards was given out by the Social Security Administration while at the same time this agency was asking Congress for an additional $200 million to facilitate the processing of disability benefit claims. During testimony given by officials from the Social Security Administration before Congress they stated that none of the $200 million set aside by Congress to help with the disability backlog came from this fund. I share the sentiments expressed by my colleagues on the House Ways and Means Committee who sharply criticized the Social Security Administration for engaging in this type of practice. In fact, one employee who had only been employed by the Social Security Administration for 22 months received a bonus of $9,256 All this has come at time when we are being told that tax increases will be needed to ensure the future solvency of the Social Security Program. We are telling our senior citizens that they will have to once again sacrifice in order to keep this program solvent. I wonder what the vast majority of Social Security recipients must think when they read about these bonuses.”