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Social Security nominee defends integrity, career

Social Security Administration's acting commissioner Carolyn Colvin, speaks during an interview in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014. Colvin, President Barack Obama's pick to head the Social Security Administration could be stalled over the agency's handling of a $300 million computer project that doesn't work. A group of Republican senators said they will try to block the nomination until an investigation into the troubled computer project is concluded. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Social Security Administration's acting commissioner Carolyn Colvin, speaks during an interview in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014. Colvin, President Barack Obama's pick to head the Social Security Administration could be stalled over the agency's handling of a $300 million computer project that doesn't work. A group of Republican senators said they will try to block the nomination until an investigation into the troubled computer project is concluded. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

By Associated Press December 4, 2014 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama’s pick to head the Social Security Administration is passionately defending her integrity a day after her nomination ran into trouble in the Senate.

Carolyn Colvin told The Associated Press on Thursday that she has always met high ethical standards during a long government career.

Obama nominated Colvin to a six-year term as Social Security commissioner in June. She has been acting commissioner since 2013.

Eleven Republican senators say they will try to block Colvin’s nomination while investigators look into a $300 million computer project that doesn’t work. The senators say there is evidence that Social Security officials misled Congress about problems with the project.

Colvin said she knows of no one misleading Congress. She noted that the project was launched long before she took over the agency.