House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Thursday filled out the final three slots on the joint deficit committee by selecting three members of her leadership team to the panel.
Pelosi, D-Calif., chose Reps. James Clyburn, D-S.C., Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., giving the panel the highest-ranking African-American and Latino lawmakers in Congress with Clyburn and Becerra, respectively. Pelosi reiterated her call for Congress to consider "the grand bargain" of major entitlement cuts matched with increased taxes.
"We must achieve a 'grand bargain' that reduces the deficit by addressing our entire budget, while strengthening Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Our entire Caucus will work closely with these three appointees toward this goal, which is the goal of the American people," Pelosi said. "Because the work of this committee will affect all Americans, I called last week for its deliberations to be transparent; the committee should conduct its proceedings in the open."
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The three House Democrats complete the 12-member panel, which must turn in its recommendations for $1.2 trillion in additional spending cuts by Thanksgiving or risk pulling an automatic trigger for deep cuts to federal agencies and defense programs.
Of the 12, ten voted for the debt-ceiling deal that rescued the country from the brink of default, which suggests at least the possibility that the 12-member panel will be able to reach a bipartisan agreement on future spending cuts. The two panel members to oppose the debt compromise are Becerra and Sen. Patrick Toomey, R-Pa.
The other eight members of the panel are Republican Sens. Jon Kyl, Ariz., and Rob Portman, Ohio, Republican Reps. Jeb Hensarling, Texas, Dave Camp, Mich., and Fred Upton, Mich., and Democratic Sens. Patty Murray, Wash., Max Baucus, Mont., and John Kerry, Mass. Murray and Hensarling are co-chairs.
On Wednesday, following the lead of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., announced their picks for the new panel.
Read more at the original Daily Herald article posting: http://www.heraldextra.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/article_3e2379c1-7f6b-538a-ae41-97114af086c1.html#ixzz1UoccJgX5
As Amanda Terkel noted at "Huffington Post," the Super Committee has only one woman
SIZING UP THE SUPER COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
GO TO PROJECT VOTE SMART.ORG TO GET INFORMATION ON RATINGS ON Gang of THE 12 COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
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