Bipartisan House group presses super committee to go big
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
Bipartisan House group presses super committee to go
big
Washington (CNN) - A bipartisan group of 100
House Republicans and Democrats is urging the super committee to
"go big," and put aside fights over taxes increases and entitlement
cuts and come together on a $4 trillion deal to reduce the nation's
deficit.
"To succeed, all options for mandatory and discretionary
spending and revenues must be on the table," said a letter sent
Wednesday from a diverse cross section of House members.
Forty Republicans signed the letter, and the group ranged from
moderates like Steve LaTourette, R-Ohio, to conservatives like Rep
Cynthia Lummis, R-Kentucky, freshman Rep Paul Gosar, R-Arizona, who
ran as a "tea party" candidate, to 2012 presidential candidate Rep.
Ron Paul, R-Texas.
While it's notable that more than three dozen Republicans went
on the record arguing revenues need to be part of a debt deal, the
letter was deliberately thin on details on what the signatories
believe amounts to a "tax hike" versus new tax revenue. Similarly
it did not give specific prescriptions on how to come up with major
savings from programs like Medicare and Medicaid.
When pressed on what form of tax revenues the GOP could accept,
Idaho Republican Mike Simpson, who helped organize the effort, said
he wouldn't get into any specifics, leaving those to the super
committee, but also stressed, "I'm not ruling out anything."
Liberal Democrat Rep. Peter Welch of Vermont, warned those on
the left who were worried about major changes to entitlement
programs that it was time to work across the aisle.
"Progressives must be in the middle of the debate not on the
sidelines, if we're going to protect our priorities, especially
Medicare," Welch said.
The three paragraph letter stated that a large deal was the
necessary to stabilize the nation's debt, but didn't outline how to
get there. But its closing line to the "super committee" pledging
"we are prepared to support you in this effort" was a signal to
those on the panel that there will be cover from across the
political spectrum if they sign onto a deal larger than the $1.2
trillion they are charged with finding.
North Carolina Rep Heath Shuler, who worked with Simpson on the
letter and heads a group of conservative "Blue Dog" Democrats, said
he's willing to lose his seat over the vote on a comprehensive deal
to slash the deficit.
"I am willing to give up anything, including my next election,
if what we are doing today gives us that opportunity for success
for tomorrow for the next generation," Schuler said.
LaTourette urged "the fringes of both parties" to stop clinging
to strongly help positions and move toward compromise.
"When this big deal comes out any member can find ten, twenty,
thirty reasons to say no but it is now time for the ostriches to
pull their heads out of the sand, the holier than thou crowd to get
off their horses and the sacred cows to be made into hamburger and
we need to get this thing done in a big way."
Despite the rare picture of Republicans and Democrats standing
shoulder to shoulder at a press conference on Capitol Hill, the
reality is that the 100 signatories on the letter make up less than
one quarter of the total number of the House and less than half of
the 218 votes any debt deal will need to pass the House later this
year.
But Simpson argued that the political lines drawn around these
issues made it surprising they could get 100 members to go public
at all. "It's a risk for Republicans to sign this because the word
revenue is in there. It is a risk for Democrats to sign this
because the word mandatory spending is in there." But the Idaho
Republican maintained there was an "overwhelming majority" in
Congress for a big debt reduction plan.
House Speaker John Boehner and Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell
met with the six Republicans on the panel on Wednesday afternoon,
and Boehner said he's trying to support efforts to come up with a
plan.
"The crushing debt and deficit of our government is like a wet
blanket over our economy, Boehner said, adding, They've got a tough
job to do and I'm going to do everything I can to help them."
On Tuesday the super committee held its first public hearing
after more than a month of closed door meetings. Although there are
no currently scheduled meetings this week, various subgroups have
been discussing a range of options. The bipartisan panel has a
deadline of November 23rd for voting on a proposal.