Real-life effects of Bush appointments

Re “Games politicians play,” editorial, April 10

Your editorial got to the heart of why President Bush’s recess appointments are so wrong. Just because the president has the right doesn’t make it right. Congress has a constitutional role to play in our democracy.

Unfortunately, what has been ignored in most of the coverage of these appointments is the real-life effect they will have on American taxpayers.

The new deputy commissioner of the Social Security Administration is someone who does not believe in Social Security. Andrew G. Biggs once wrote about sending Social Security “to the slaughterhouse.” This appointment is about politics. Americans deserve better.

BARBARA B. KENNELLY

President and

Chief Executive

National Committee to

Preserve Social Security

and Medicare

Washington