Reid Appoints First 3 Members Of Debt Super Committee

Patty Murray, head of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee? The woman charged with Mediscaring every GOP Senate candidate next year? Alrighty then.

Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) has selected Sen. Patty Murray of Washington to serve as co-chair of a new congressional committee charged with reducing the debt, Reid’s office announced Tuesday.

Reid has also chosen Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) to serve on the panel, which was created under the terms of the recent deal to raise the nation’s debt ceiling, the statement said.

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Reid’s selections include none of the senators who served on the so-called Gang of Six, a bipartisan group that met for months to devise a plan to dramatically reduce the debt through spending cuts and entitlement and tax reforms.

Meanwhile, Mitch McConnell talks about his appointees to the committee but doesn't say very much.

"I asked our colleagues, our Republican colleagues, who would like to be on it," McConnell said. "And I basically sat down in person with the people who wanted to be on it, talked to them about it, and have done follow-up calls to several of them that I’m leaning toward appointing."

McConnell also said that he was looking for legislators who were ready to receive a great deal of pressure about the committee.

"I’m putting people on there that I think have high character, great integrity, and can deal with the fact that they are going to be pushed and pulled and lobbied by everyone in this town, including our own colleagues in the Senate," McConnell said.

Remember, it only takes one of the six to side with the 6 members from the other party to get a plan to the floor of both houses. I think McConnell should appoint two hardcore members like Toomey and Rubio and then for the "RINO" member....Orrin hosta. He has a reputation as a deal maker but he is in full on "Please don't dump me like you did Bob Bennett last year" mode. He'll look moderate but he's scared...in a good way.

I'm not too worried about the House. There are plenty of solid conservatives and Boehner isn't about to come this far only to blow it up by appointing the one vote that screws over the GOP.

I'm guessing nothing comes of this "super committee" and they simply find a way to waive the second half of cuts while releasing the rest of the debt ceiling increase.

posted by DrewM. at 07:11 PM

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