Super Congress

This page is dedicated to the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction. You can see a timeline of the committee here.

= Legislation =

"This bill would require Super Committee members to report within 48 hours any contribution of $1,000 or more received during the period beginning on the date the member was appointed to the committee and ending on January 31, 2012." "This bill would require Super Committee meetings to be open to the public and made available for television coverage, except when discussing classified information."
 * Budget Control Act of 2011 - Title IV
 * S. 1498. A bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to provide for additional reporting with respect to contributions to members of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction; to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
 * S. 1501. A bill to require the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to conduct the business of the Committee in a manner that is open to the public; to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
 * H.R. 2723. The Social Security Protection Act of 2011.

Amends the Budget Control Act of 2011 to prohibit the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction from proposing any cuts in Social Security benefits under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) or under SSA title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI).


 * H.R. 2724. The Medicaid Protection Act of 2011.

Amends the Budget Control Act of 2011 to prohibit the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction from proposing any reductions in eligibility, payments, or benefits, or any increases in premiums or other cost-sharing that would reduce outlays for, the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act.


 * H.R. 2726. The Education Protection Act of 2011.

Education Protection Act of 2011 - Amends the Budget Control Act of 2011 to prohibit the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction from proposing any reductions in eligibility, payments, or benefits, or anything that otherwise reduce outlays of budget authority under, the Head Start Act or any program administered by the Secretary of Education, including any program under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Higher Education Act of 1965, or the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.


 * H.R. 2727. The People's Act of 2011.

Amends the Budget Control Act of 2011 to prohibit the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction from proposing any reductions in eligibility, payments, or benefits, or that would otherwise reduce outlays of budget authority for: (1) Social Security benefits under title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) or under SSA title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI); (2) the Medicare program under SSA title XVIII; (3) the Medicaid program under SSA title XIX; or (4) the Head Start Act or any program administered by the Secretary of Education, including any program under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Higher Education Act of 1965, or the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

"Same exact purpose as S. 1501."
 * H.R. 2796. A bill to require the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to conduct the business of the committee in a manner that is open to the public; to the Committee on Rules.
 * H.R. 2860. Deficit Committee Transparency Act; to the Committee on Rules.

This bill would require members and staff of the Super Committee to disclose lobbying activities and campaign or member-designated PAC contributions.


 * H.R. 3201. To Amend the Budget Control Act of 2011 to eliminate the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction; to the Committee on Rules and the Committee on the Budget.
 * H.R. 12. The American Jobs Act of 2011; to the Committees on Ways and Means, Small Business, Transportation and Infrastructure, Education and the Workforce, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, House Administration, the Judiciary, Oversight and Government Reform, Rules, and Science, Space, and Technology.

This bill would increase the target and trigger for the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction.


 * S. 1549. American Jobs Act of 2011. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar.

Same Purpose as H.R. 12


 * H.Con.Res72. Expressing the sense of Congress that any legislative language approved by the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction should not reduce benefits for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid recipients; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

= Congressional Letters in Support of Super Committee Transparency =


 * Quigley and Renacci - Aug. 12th
 * Leahy - Aug. 11th
 * Heller and Vitter - Aug. 5th

= Sunlight Blog Posts =

Click here to see all Sunlight blog posts tagged as being relevant to the Super Committee.


 * On Super Committee failure - Sunlight Foundation (John Wonderlich), November 20, 2011
 * Broad Spectrum of Interests Urge Super Committee Transparency - Sunlight Foundation (Lisa Rosenberg), November 16, 2011
 * It's not too late for the public to read the Super Committee's Bill - Sunlight Foundation (Lisa Rosenberg), November 14, 2011
 * The Super Committee and November 23rd - Sunlight Foundation (Daniel Schuman) November 3, 2011
 * Haunt the House (and Senate): Our Kind of Halloween - Sunlight Foundation (Laurenellen McCann), November 3, 2011
 * "Back to the Source": Members of Debt Panel Have Ties to Lobbyists - Sunlight Foundation (Melanie Buck), November 3, 2011
 * Healthy Lobbying of the Super Committee - Sunlight Foundation (Lee Drutman), November 1, 2011
 * This Halloween, Haunt the House...and the Senate - Sunlight Foundation (Laurenellen McCann), October 25, 2011
 * The Grassroots Campaign on Opening the Super Committee - Sunlight Foundation (Zubedah Nanfuka), October 24, 2011
 * The Super Committee is Going to Fail - Sunlight Foundation (John Wonderlich), October 19, 2011
 * House and Senate Committees Should Stand Up For Transparency - Sunlight Foundation (Lisa Rosenberg) October 13, 2011
 * Members of Congress Can Address Super Committee Super Secrecy - Sunlight Foundation (Lisa Rosenberg) October 11, 2011
 * A Transparent Super Committee Would Be Headline News - Sunlight Foundation (Lisa Rosenberg), October 3, 2011
 * Super Committee in the Shadows - Sunlight Foundation (John Wonderlich), September 28, 2011
 * Groups Call for Super Committee Members to Make Avenues of Influence Transparent - Sunlight Foundation (Lisa Rosenberg), September 15, 2011
 * Super Committee Transparency: Not Going Away - Sunlight Foundation (John Wonderlich), Aug. 22, 2011
 * Common Sense Super Committee Transparency Recommendations should be Adopted - Sunlight Foundation (Lisa Rosenberg), Aug. 18, 2011
 * The Debt Ceiling and You - Sunlight Foundation (Nicole Aro), Aug. 17, 2011
 * Official SuperCommittee Meetings Must be Public - Sunlight Foundation (John Wonderlich), Aug. 11, 2011
 * Calling on Super Citizens to Brainstorm Opening Super Congress - Sunlight Foundation (Laurenellen McCann), Aug. 9, 2011
 * Quigley and Renacci Call for Open SuperCommittee - Sunlight Foundation (John Wonderlich), Aug. 9, 2011
 * New Coalition Letter Demands Transparent Supercommittee - Sunlight Foundation (John Wonderlich), Aug. 8, 2011
 * Pelosi calls for Transparent Joint Committee - Sunlight Foundation (John Wonderlich), Aug. 6, 2011
 * Debt Ceiling Legislative Action Calendar - Sunlight Foundation (Daniel Schuman), Aug. 3, 2011
 * Open Letter to House and Senate Leadership on Joint Committee - Sunlight Foundation (Ellen Miller), Aug. 3, 2011
 * “Super Congress”: industry ties to some possible picks - Sunlight Reporting (Nancy Watzman and Anupama Narayanswamy), Aug. 3, 2011
 * OpenSuperCongress: Debt Committee Must be Transparent - Sunlight Foundation (John Wonderlich), Aug. 3, 2011
 * Super Congress? Better be Super Transparent - Sunlight Foundation (John Wonderlich), Aug. 2, 2011
 * Voting Blindly on the Debt Limit Bill - Sunlight Foundation (John Wonderlich), Aug. 1, 2011
 * Debt Limit Secrecy - Sunlight Foundation (John Wonderlich), July 5, 2011

= Sunlight Investigations =


 * Reporters Notebook: Understanding the automatic cuts if the super committee can't deliver - Keenan Steiner, Nov. 18, 2011
 * Senators on super committee collecting less campaign cash this quarter - Lindsay Young, Nov. 04, 2011
 * Super committee related issues feature in hundreds of lobbying reports - Anupama Narayanswamy, Oct. 24, 2011
 * Van Hollen's alternate fundraising vehicle wakes up - Keenan Steiner, Oct. 21, 2011
 * Super committee member Van Hollen doubles campaign cash intake over last quarter - Anupama Narayanswamy, Oct. 18, 2011
 * Online poker lobby gives timely donations to pair of congressman pushing its cause - Keenan Steiner, Oct. 14, 2011
 * Big PACs contribute $83,000 to super committee members - Bill Allison, Oct. 6, 2011
 * Super committee, Boehner speech protests linked to major labor group - Chris Zubak-Skees, Sep. 16, 2011
 * How do lobbyists snag front-row seats at hearings? - Tessa Muggeridge, Sep. 15, 2011
 * Top Donors to super committee House Dems lobby for defense and medicare funding - Bill Allison, Sep. 12, 2011
 * Lobbyists golfing with Clyburn have friend on super committee - Keenan Steiner, Sep. 8, 2011
 * Donors to Senate GOP super committee members seek tax cuts, tax breaks - Bill Allison, Sep. 6, 2011
 * Super committee member Upton creates joint fundraising committee - Chris Zubak-Skees, Aug. 31, 2011
 * Donors to super committee Senate Dems lobby for tax breaks, federal funding - Bill Allison, Aug 31, 2011
 * Big donors to super committee members have a stake in the outcome - Bill Allison, Aug 25, 2011
 * Companies pay to honor Clyburn, other Super Committee members, at charity events - Keenan Steiner, Aug. 19, 2011
 * Medicare and the Super Committee: Can doctors afford to lose two percent of their payments? - Sarah Dorsey, Aug. 19, 2011
 * Becerra, Clyburn, Van Hollen are House Dem Picks for Super Committee - Nancy Watzman and Anupama Narayanswamy, Aug. 11, 2011
 * Fundraisers already planned for Super Committee Members - Keenan Steiner, Aug. 11, 2011
 * Super Committee Senate GOP picks: Kyl, Portman, Toomey- Tessa Muggeridge and Katy Shultz, Aug. 10, 2011
 * Boehner selects Hensarling, Camp and Upton for the Super Committee - Tessa Muggeridge and Nancy Watzman, Aug. 10, 2011
 * Report: Reid names Murray, Baucus and Kerry to Super Committee - Nancy Watzman and Anupama Narayanswamy, Aug. 9, 2011
 * Lobbyist cash flows to Warner, possible Super Committee member - Katy Schultz, Aug. 9, 2011
 * D.C. insider, Sen. Portman, another possible pick for “Super Congress” - Katy Schultz, Aug. 5, 2011
 * “Super Congress”: industry ties to some possible picks - Nancy Watzman and Anupama Narayanswamy, Aug. 3, 2011

= Sunlight Press Releases =


 * Editorial Memo: How the New "Super Committee" Must be Transparent - Aug. 10, 2011
 * Sunlight Responds to Pelosi "Super Congress" Transparency Call - Aug. 6, 2011
 * Sunlight Urges 'Super Congress' Transparency with Specific Online Actions - Aug. 3, 2011

= Sunlight Press Mentions =


 * Report: Lobbyists Bundled $17.1 Million Since 2009 - National Journal, Nov. 23, 2011
 * Debt-reduction 'supercommittee' hid in plain sight - AP, Nov. 22, 2011
 * Sunlight Foundation: Congressional supercommittee is an open government failure as well - Govfresh, Nov. 20, 2011
 * The Super Committee casts a hungry eye on Medicare - Fiscal Times, Nov. 17, 2011
 * Eight Days Left: Was Super Committee a bad idea from the start? - Christian Science Monitor, Nov. 16, 2011
 * Swaying the Super Committee - Hispanic Business, Nov. 15, 2011
 * A Special-interest Wish List for the Super Committee - Washington Post, Nov. 15, 2011
 * For Deficit Lobbying, No End in Sight - Roll Call, Nov. 15, 2011
 * Ten questions (and answers) on Super Committee - Market Watch, Nov. 9, 2011
 * Patty Murray's staff hold retreat- at lobbying firm - Seattle Times, Nov. 8, 2011
 * Five of six super committee senators see major drops in fundraising, group says - Government Executive, Nov. 7, 2011
 * Interest Groups Try to Catch Debt Committee’s Ear - New York Times, Nov. 3, 2011
 * Can You Hear Me Now? Nonprofit Voices at the Supercommittee - Nonprofit Quarterly, Nov. 3, 2011
 * Colorado Springs could take economic bullet if deficit panel fails to reach accord - Denver Post, Nov. 2, 2011
 * Health care is the largest special interest group lobbying the congressional super committee - Chicago Now, Nov. 1, 2011
 * Super Committee: Government Access Groups Rally for Transparency - International Business Tribune, Oct. 31, 2011
 * Clyburn most active fundraiser on debt panel - McClatchy, Oct. 28, 2011
 * Ways to Defuse the Super Committee's Trigger, The Atlantic Wire, Oct. 28, 2011
 * Public Meetings of Super Committee Few and Far Between - OMB Watch, Oct. 27, 2011
 * Democratic Plan to Cut $3 Trillion Doesn't Mention Defense - The Atlantic Wire, Oct. 26, 2011
 * Supercommittee stays opaque - Washington Times, Oct. 26, 2011
 * Debt-Panel Stalemate - The Daily Beast, Oct. 26, 2011
 * Chart of the Day: The Biggest Lobbies Lobbying the Supercommittee - The Atlantic, Oct. 24, 2011
 * Lobbying Blitz Barrages Budget-Cutting Super Committee - Mother Jones, Oct. 24, 2011
 * Camp rakes in big bucks after appointment to the Super Committee - The Hill, Oct. 15, 2011
 * Rep. Darrell Issa Won't Push For Deficit Panel Transparency - Roll Call, Oct. 11, 2011
 * Many Lobbyists Used to Work for Lawmakers on Deficit Panel- USA Today, Oct. 10, 2011
 * Many in Both Parties Want a Window into the Deficit Reduction Panel's Work - New York Times, Oct. 10, 2011
 * Camp Rakes in Big Bucks After Appointment to Super Committee - The Hill, October 15, 2011
 * Lobbyists Line Up To Sway Special Committee - New York Times, September 21, 2011
 * Super Committee at Risk with Campaign Donors - NPR, Aug. 17, 2011
 * Secrecy Fears Over Debt Super Committee - CNNMoney, Aug. 17, 2011
 * Will the Super Committee turn on the Lights? - Yahoo! Finance, Aug. 17, 2011
 * Secrecy Fears Over Debt Super Committee - KITV Honolulu, Aug. 17, 2011
 * If You Aren't Worried about Lobbying and the Super Congress, You Aren't Paying Attention - POGO, Aug, 17, 2011
 * Democracy Demands High Level of Super Committee Transparency - OMB Watch, Aug. 16, 2011
 * Deficit SuperCommittee Members Have Close Ties to Many Lobbyists - New York Times via Greenwire, Aug. 16, 2011
 * Super Committee Conflicts of Interest - WTVM, Aug. 16, 2011

= Editorials =


 * 'Superfail' proved the cynics right - The San Francisco Examiner, Nov. 28, 2011
 * A Transparent Failure - Nolan McCarty/Princeton, Nov. 26, 2011
 * Super Committee is failing miserably - Mercury News, Nov. 14. 2011
 * Bring the Super Committee out from behind closed doors - Washington Examiner, Nov. 13, 2011
 * Can the supercommittee be saved from itself? - Dallas Morning News, Nov. 3, 2011
 * Super Committee should let in a little sun - Roanoke Times, Oct. 19, 2011
 * Panel for cutting deficit must do business in open - Los Angeles Daily News (Elizabeth Kennedy), Aug. 26, 2011
 * Super Disclose Them - New York Times (Editorial), Aug. 23, 2011
 * Inquirer Editorial: Taxes, or spending, or both, which route? - Philadelphia Inquirer, Aug. 14, 2011
 * Deficit panel must be transparent: With Baucus as part of 'super committee,' Montanans should make opinions known - Missoulian, Aug. 14, 2011
 * Demand transparency of congressional commitee - The Spectrum, Aug. 13, 2011
 * Not-so-super transparency - Times-Tribune, Aug. 13, 2011
 * 'Super committee' must get to work, build trust through transparency - Jackson Sun, Aug. 11, 2011
 * No closed sessions for committee - Journal and Courier, Aug. 11, 2011
 * Serving shareholders and democracy - New York TImes, Aug. 9, 2011
 * Let there be light on the budget super committee - Washington Examiner, Aug. 4, 2011

= OpenSuperCongress Campaign =

OpenSuperCongress Campaign Page

Video: "The Debt Ceiling Deal and You"

Sunlight's Aug. 3rd letter to leadership demanding that the Join Select Committee on Deficit Reduction operate openly.

Organizations Call on SuperCommittee to Operate Openly - Aug. 8th letter to leadership

Five things that the Super Committee should post on its website:


 * Live webcasts of all official meetings and hearings
 * The Committee's report should be posted for 72 hours before a final committee vote
 * Disclosure of every meeting held with lobbyists and other powerful interests
 * Disclosure of campaign contributions as they are received (on their campaign websites)
 * Financial disclosures of Committee members and staffers

Congress just pushed through the “Debt Ceiling” bill with almost no transparency. Let’s make sure the new “Super Committee” committee created by this bill operates in the open.

The Super Committee is made up of 12 members of regular Congress who have been given the power to suggest cutting $1.5 trillion dollars from the national debt. Despite the importance of their recommendations, the law that created this committee says very little about how open it should be. Right now, only the first meeting, the ultimate report and the congressional vote on the final product are required to be public.

The stakes are too high for such a powerful committee to operate out of the reach of public oversight. We demand to know what goes on behind the scenes: the Super Committee needs to be transparent about its work and about the special interests who will undoubtably try to influence their decisions. There is precedent for every single one of our recommendations for openness (some of which you can see to the right). Stand with us and demand that this Super Committee display a super level of accountability and transparency.

Supporting organizations:


 * The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law
 * The Campaign Legal Center
 * Center for Responsive Politics
 * Feminists for Free Expression
 * Fund for Constitutional Government
 * Government Accountability Project
 * iSolon
 * Legal Publication Services
 * Liberty Coalition
 * OMB Watch
 * Open the Government
 * Progressive Librarians Guild
 * Project on Government Oversight
 * Public Citizen
 * Rebuild the Dream
 * Society of Professional Journalists
 * Union of Concerned Scientists
 * Washington Coalition for Open Government
 * WashingtonWatch.com

= Posts and Resources from Our Partners and Other Organizations =


 * POGO and Allies Want Proposals to "Super Secret Committee" Made Public - POGO, Oct. 18, 2011
 * Super Committe: Under the (foreign) influence? - POGO, Oct. 6, 2011
 * Letter to Super Committee Urging Transparency - Brennan Center for Justice, Aug. 17, 2011
 * Gingrich Outlines Objections to ‘Super Committee’ at Heritage Event - Heritage, Aug. 16, 2011
 * New Push to Make ‘Super Committee’ Operate in the Open - Heritage, Aug. 16, 2011
 * Super Committee Watch- OMB Watch, Aug. 8, 2011
 * "A Closed 'Super Congress'? Oh, I Don't Think So" - CATO, Aug. 5, 2011
 * Super Congress Has Transparency Deficit - POGO, Aug. 2, 2011

= Other News =


 * Super Committee on the brink - Politico (Jake Sherman and Manu Raju), Nov. 16, 2011
 * Deal-breaker election looms over supercommittee negotiations - The Hill (Alexander Bolton and Russell Berman), Nov. 14, 2011
 * Dem angst increases over supercommittee's secretive process - The Hill (Mike Lillis), Nov. 9, 2011
 * Super Secretive - Government Executive (Kellie Lunney), Oct. 27, 2011
 * Special interests woo Super Congress members with campaign cash- iwatchnews (Sandy Johnson and Aaron Mehta), Oct. 27, 2011
 * Murkowski 'Frustrated' by Closed Door Debt Talks - Alaska Journal of Commerce (Andrew Jensen), Oct. 27, 2011
 * After criticism, Super Committee to meet publicly again- Government Executive (Billy House), October 19, 2011
 * Camp rakes in big bucks after appointment to Super Committee- The Hill (Alexander Bolton), October 15, 2011
 * Pelosi offers Democratic cuts - National Journal (Billy House), October 13, 2011
 * Deficit Panel: What are they thinking? - Politico (Jonathan Allen), October 12, 2011
 * Many in both parties want a window into the deficit reduction panel's work - New York Times (Robert Pear), October 10, 2011
 * Donors gave $83,000 to deficit panel members in August - New York Times (Ashley Southall), October 6, 2011
 * Lobbyists in on 'super' secrets - Politico (Anna Palmer), October 3, 2011
 * Supercommittee Operating In Secret- Politico (Jake Sherman and Matt Dobias), September 27, 2011
 * Bundlers poised for power over supercommittee - Politico (Anna Palmer and Manu Raju) September 18, 2011
 * Super Committee Schedules First Closed-Door Meeting - National Journal (Katy O'Donnell) September 14, 2011
 * Camp Won't Add Fundraisers While SupComm is Meeting - National Journal (Chris Frates) September 14. 2011
 * Kerry vows to avoid lobbyists, fund-raising while on 'supercommittee'- Boston Globe (Glen Johnson)
 * GOP Members of Supercommittee to Hold First Strategy Session - The Hill (Erik Wasson), Aug. 30, 2011
 * Letter to the Editor: Congress' 'Super' Panel Must Stay Super Clean - Kansas City Star (Larry Smith), Aug. 27, 2011
 * Opinion: 'Super Committee' Should Meet in Secret - San Angelo Standard-Times (Dan Thomasson), Aug. 27, 2011
 * Elizabeth Kennedy: Panel for cutting deficit must do business in open - Daily News (Elizabeth Kennedy), Aug. 26, 2011
 * 'Super committee' will launch website for public input - LA Times (Lisa Mascaro), Aug. 24, 2011
 * Supercommittee chairs: Progress made - Politico (Segun Min Kim), Aug. 24, 2011
 * Supercommittee talks have begun, says Fred Upton - Politico (Dan Berman), Aug. 22, 2011
 * Logistical Concerns Slow Start of Deficit Panel - (Roll Call $), Aug. 22, 2011
 * Rob Portman says deficit 'supercommittee' will meet publicly and privately - Cleveland Plain Dealer (Stephen Koff), Aug. 19, 2011
 * Dave Loebsack Calls for "Super Committee" Transparency - Blog for Iowa (Paul Deaton), Aug. 18, 2011
 * Sunlight for the Supercommittee - Politico OpEd (By Rep. Vern Buchanan), Aug. 17, 2011
 * Supercommittee At Risk With Campaign Donors - NPR (Peter Overby), Aug. 17, 2011
 * Contribution Profile of Members of the Deficit 'Super Committee' - MapLight, Aug. 16, 2011
 * Sen. Leahy calls for transparency in supercommittee negotiations - The Hill (Alexander Bolton), Aug. 11, 2011
 * Rep. Becerra Supporter Touts Seat on Debt Committee in Fund-Raising Pitch - Wall Street Journal (Brody Mullins), Aug. 11, 2011
 * 'Super Congress' Deficit Commitee Members Have Former Lobbyists As Top Staffers - Huffington Post (Paul Blumenthal, Sam Stein), Aug. 11, 2011
 * Debt Panel Co-Chairman Murray Counts U.S. Defense Industry as a Top Donor - Bloomberg (Roxana Tiron), Aug. 11, 2011
 * Liberal group: Joint committee members should give up leadership, fundraising posts - Yahoo! News, Aug. 11, 2011
 * Boehner, McConnell name Super Committee members - National Journal (Susan David), Aug. 10, 2011
 * Who's Bankrolling the Super Committee: Senate Democrats - Atlantic Wire (John Hudson), Aug. 10, 2011
 * GOP want transparent committee - The Hill (Alicia M. Cohn), Aug. 4, 2011
 * Buchanan to Introduce “Sunshine Bill” on Super-Committee Meetings - Press Release (Rep. Buchanan), Aug. 4, 2011
 * Heller, 5 Senators Demand Transparency from Joint Committee - Press Release (Sen. Heller), Aug. 3, 2011
 * Steelman Calls for a "Super Clean" Commitee - Politico (David Catanese), Aug. 3, 2011
 * David Vitter Introduces Bill to Make Super Congress Campaign Contributions Transparent - Huffington Post (Paul Blumenthal), Aug. 2, 2011
 * Super Congress Debt Reduction Has Little Transparency - Huffington Post (Paul Blumenthal), Aug. 2, 2011
 * Vitter Introduces Bill to Bring Transparency to Super Committee Members’ Campaign Cash - Press Release (Sen. Vitter), Aug. 2, 2011
 * Debt Ceiling Deal Paves Way For Potentially Historic Lobbying Campaign - Huffington Post (Sam Stein), Aug. 1, 2011
 * Debt Ceiling Deal That Cuts Trillions, Creates 'Super Congress' Announced By Party Leaders - Huffington Post, July 31, 2011

= Reporting on the Deals =

Days away from a deadline, Congress's deficit-reduction supercommittee is stymied, stumped in large part by one of Washington's seemingly unsolvable problems: What to do with the Bush-era tax cuts?
 * Spat Stymies Debt Panel - Wall Street Journal, Nov. 18, 2011

Republicans are digging in against any agreement that does not extend current income-tax rates, which are scheduled to expire at the end of 2012.

Democrats want them extended only for lower- and middle-income Americans, holding out for higher rates on families with taxable income over $250,000 a year. If any agreement is to be reached on cutting the deficit by next Wednesday's deadline, this impasse must be resolved. Democrats and Republicans continued their increasingly bitter war of words over bipartisan deficit reduction talks today as the time for leaders to salvage the process runs perilously short.
 * Partisan Sniping Still Dominating Super Committee Talks - Roll Call, Nov. 17, 2011

Super committee Co-Chairwoman Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) insisted that Democrats had offered a counterproposal to a GOP plan from last week and that any final deal must be “fair to working families and puts our country back to work — that’s the task that we have at hand.” Supercommittee Democrats say they are willing to accept the latest deficit-reduction offer from Republicans, but only if the GOP drops its demand to lower and extend the Bush tax rates.
 * Supercommittee Dems demand that GOP give up lowering tax rates - The Hill, Nov. 16, 2011

The demand that tax rates stay at their current levels is one of four major Democratic demands that will be tough for Republicans to accept. Growing Republican support for raising taxes to help reduce the deficit has prompted a GOP identity crisis, sparking a clash within the party over whether to abandon its bedrock anti-tax doctrine.
 * GOP supercommittee members’ tax plan gives party an identity crisis - Washington Post, Nov. 16, 2011

Tensions have mounted in recent days as two of the GOP’s most fervent anti-tax stalwarts on Capitol Hill — Sen. Patrick J. Toomey (Pa.) and Rep. Jeb Hensarling (Tex.) — have lobbied party colleagues behind the scenes to forgo their old allegiances and even break campaign promises by embracing hundreds of billions of dollars in tax hikes. Rep. Jeb Hensarling said Tuesday Republicans will not alter their supercommittee offer until Democrats put forward a new plan to reform entitlements, as Democrats resisted GOP calls to further cut benefits to Social Security and Medicare.
 * Supercommittee debate revolves around 'balanced' approach - Politico, Nov. 16, 2011

But at the same time, the Texas Republican who co-chairs the special panel signaled the GOP could accept more than $250 billion in tax increases if the Democrats move in their direction on entitlements. Republican super committee Co-Chairman Jeb Hensarling (Texas) appeared to double-down today on his contention that the GOP will not consider more tax increases as part of any deal to reduce the deficit. "The talks at a standstill, Democratic officials familiar with the work of Congress' debt-reduction supercommittee disclosed they had floated a secret counteroffer late last week to generally accept a Republican framework for a $1.5 trillion compromise, while differing on numerous key details. Democrats signaled a willingness to cut spending by $876 billion, including $225 billion from Medicare and $50 billion from Medicaid, these officials said, and raise tax revenue by $400 billion, far less than they had earlier demanded. They also recommended using $700 billion in unspent funds from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for a jobs program along the lines President Barack Obama wants, plus steps to protect the upper middle class from the alternative tax and extending financing for doctors who treat Medicare patients." "Super-committee members from both parties are now embracing using savings from withdrawing troops from Iraq and Afghanistan in any plan they can devise by next week to reduce the deficit by at least $1.2 trillion over 10 years. The idea had been derided by Republicans as a gimmick early on in deliberations by the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction. But the prospect has grown more tempting as panel members scramble to avoid missing next week’s Nov. 23 deadline for coming up with a deficit plan and try to avoid triggering automatic budget cuts. The White House has said more than $1 trillion will be saved from the drawdown of troops, a computation that relies on a Congressional Budget Office assumption that war spending stays at the temporary levels of last year for the next 10 years." "A bipartisan pair of supercommittee members huddled behind closed doors Monday night at the Capitol, as the debt-reduction panel faces a critical deadline in nine days. Rep. Chris Van Hollen, Maryland Democrat, met with House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp, Michigan Republican, in the latter’s committee office for about a half-hour. A Republican aide described the meeting as “impromptu.” “We’re were just kicking around ideas … a little bit of this and that,” said Mr. Van Hollen as the two lawmakers walked briskly away from reporters after the gathering." "A day after super-committee Democrats floated a plan to cut $2.3 trillion over 10 years from the deficit, as posted by National Journal, Republicans on Thursday circulated a cheeky, annotated version drafted by a GOP aide. Joking aside, the document illustrates how Republicans view the proposal and highlights the chasm between the 12-member panel's six Democrats and six Republicans as their Nov. 23 deadline for recommending at least $1.2 trillion in deficit reducion over a decade looms." "But Toomey said that if agreement is not reached on how to cut at least $1.2 trillion from the nation’s deficit over the next decade, “I think a lively debate will occur” over whether to allow the automatic cuts take place—so-called sequestration—despite President Obama’s insistence on Friday he would not go along with any attempt to turn them off." "Several aides involved in the process said ongoing bipartisan talks — which continued over the weekend in Washington and by telephone — have so far yielded few results. Intraparty fissures on both sides are breaking into the open. And there’s now open talk of putting off tough decisions on entitlements and tax reform and dismantling the sequester mandate to avoid the punishment Congress created for failure — a move that President Barack Obama said he opposes." "Sens. Pat Toomey (Pa.) and Rob Portman (Ohio), Republican members of the deficit-reduction supercommittee, are trying to attract Democrats off the special panel to support their plan to restructure the tax code. Toomey and Portman met with Democratic and Republican members of the Gang of Eight on Wednesday to present their plan to reduce the deficit, according to Senate sources. The ambitious proposal would raise about $300 billion in new net tax revenues and lower marginal income tax rates across the board." "In a rare media availability, Hensarling said he believed both parties are still acting in good faith and that Republicans had made a “major concession” in their most recent offer to Democrats by including provisions that could levy up to $300 billion in revenues by reforming the tax code to eliminate deductions. The brief exchange with the press came the day after tensions on the panel hit another high over the proper balance of tax hikes and changes to entitlement programs." "Super committee Democrats struck back at Republicans today by releasing further details of a lightly reported deficit reduction proposal that the Democrats pitched in a small, hours-long negotiating session Monday night. The plan would be worth $2.3 trillion in savings over 10 years, with $1 trillion in revenues, $1 trillion in cuts and $300 billion in interest — a $700 billion reduction overall from the Democrats’ first offer. Republicans on the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction leaked their own proposal Tuesday. That plan is worth $1.2 trillion over 10 years and made up of $500 billion in revenues and $700 billion in cuts." "Congressional Democrats, who are pushing for $1.3 trillion in new revenue and the same amount in cuts as part of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, have rejected a Republican proposal to increase revenue by roughly $600 billion, half of which comes from taxes." "Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) took a different tone than Democratic colleagues Wednesday and applauded the Republican offer to raise $300 billion in new taxes as part of a deficit-reduction deal. Durbin, the second-ranking Senate Democratic leader, chose to focus on the positive and hailed the latest development as a “breakthrough.” He was worked on a massive deficit-reduction package for more than a year as a member of the Simpson-Bowles commission and the Senate’s Gang of Six." "Although panel members have publicly outlined three offers recently, staffers said those plans are just the public element of a steady exchange of informal offers. Around the same time as a proposal by Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., that would link eliminating popular tax deductions to reducing marginal tax rates set in President George W. Bush's administration, which Republicans called a major concession, committee Cochair Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, floated what sources described as a more purely Republican plan. Aides said the proposal would cut the deficit by almost $4 trillion over 10 years." "As the Super Committee approaches its deadline, a new poll shows that the public is conflicted about which proposal to support. By a margin of 49 percent to 44 percent, the public favored the Democratic plan suggested earlier this month that would include “$4 trillion in deficit reduction through a combination of federal spending cuts and tax increases on wealthier Americans” over “a Republican plan that calls for $3 trillion in deficit reduction through spending cuts alone, with no tax increases.”" "John Kerry responded to the GOP's tax proposal by saying that there was still significant distance between the two parties. “Well, [Republicans] are anxious to promote a certain concept with all of you, but I’ll be very clear that whatever they put there doesn’t get the job done, and we’ve got some distance to travel and we’re working very hard to do that,” Kerry, a super committee member, told reporters following the weekly Senate lunches." "Senate Republicans are willing to accept hundreds of billions of dollars in net tax increases over a decade as a part of a super committee deal, according to aides who call the move a major concession. Democrats describe it as a public relations ruse, and one they have already rejected. Republicans are proposing eliminating certain tax benefits, while allowing Bush era reductions in marginal tax rates to become permanent." "Congressional Republicans aren't going back on their no-tax-increases pledge, but they are talking about how to raise revenues. Their ideas include raising medicare premiums on high earners, upping fees for government services and programs, and eliminating some subsidies and tax deductions." "Earlier today, Democrats leaked a $3 trillion deficit-reduction package to the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Dow Jones and Reuters but in each case, one major government expense was not mentioned: defense spending. The outline of the plan, independently reported by each outlet, calls for savings though 'cuts to federal entitlement programs and Medicare coupled with at least $1 trillion in new taxes.' It's not clear why the Pentagon, which is on the hook for a $600 billion haircut if a deal between Democrats and Republicans isn't reached, is left out of the Democratic proposal. (Thus far, reports say the bulk of the savings will come from about $400 billion in Medicare savings and revenues from tax increases.) What is clear, however, is the aggressiveness in which military contractors are lobbying members of the Super Committee..." "Republicans on the deficit supercommittee have presented a counteroffer to Democrats that would reduce the deficit by $2.2 trillion over a decade. The GOP plan includes no tax increases, but does include up to $640 billion in new revenue. Some of this revenue is from increased user fees, and some is expected gains in tax revenue from an economy the GOP expects will improve from its plan..." "The top Democrat in the House declined Thursday to endorse cuts to Medicare and Social Security benefits proposed by Senate Democrats earlier this week. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi also said a counter-offer from Republicans on the deficit 'supercommittee' - it totals about $2.2 trillion - isn't bold or balanced enough because it lacks tax revenues..." "Democrats on the debt-reduction super committee proposed a plan for slashing up to $3 trillion from the federal debt but Republicans swiftly and decisively rejected it because it relied heavily on tax increases, according to several congressional sources from both parties..." "According to congressional sources, the [Democrats'] plan includes a roughly equal mix of spending cuts and revenue increases; between $200 billion and $300 billion in new economic stimulus spending that would be paid for with lower interest payments from reducing deficits; and around $400 billion in Medicare savings, with half coming in benefit cuts and the other half in cuts to healthcare providers..." "Boehner said that the 12 members of the bipartisan, bicameral panel deserve “a pat on the back.” Then he lashed out against the Democratic plan described by staffers as saving about $3 trillion over 10 years, chiding that “it’s time for everybody to get serious.” The speaker said he particularly took issue with the Democrats’ inclusion of $1.3 trillion in tax increases in the proposal. He also derided its only '$50 billion' in cuts to Medicaid, the program that covers the sick and disabled [ ... ] Meanwhile, the reception by Democrats on the panel to a $2.2 trillion proposal being offered by Republicans was described as chilly. Democrats reportedly resent Republicans' claims that their plan is as conciliatory as the Democratic proposal. Democrats say they’ve agreed to serious entitlement cuts while Republicans have not budged on their anti-new tax stance..." "House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Thursday rejected a proposal by the Democratic members of the congressional supercommittee on deficit reduction, declaring its $1.3 trillion in tax increases unacceptable..." "After two months of near daily negotiations, the gulf between Democrats and Republicans on the deficit-cutting supercommittee remains deep. The two sides remain hundreds of billions of dollars apart with both parties dug in on protecting their cherished priorities — GOP leaders are refusing to consider tax increases, while Democrats are insisting that increased revenues be part of a final deal..." "Two very different debt-reduction proposals leaked to the media this week show that Democrats and Republicans on the supercommittee are still miles apart on a deal, as the clock ticks down toward a Thanksgiving deadline for a unified plan. After almost two months of mostly secret meetings, the 12 members of the bipartisan panel so far are sticking to their partisan guns, with Democrats calling for tax increases and some spending cuts, while Republicans remain opposed to any new taxes." "Amid a flurry of counter-proposals from the deficit-reduction committee, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Thursday rejected a Democratic offer to slash $3 trillion from future debts because it contained significant tax increases. While GOP negotiators offered a slimmer package of savings with virtually no tax hikes, Boehner said the Democratic request for $1.3 trillion in new tax revenue was a non-starter and gave his most pessimistic outlook to date that the so-called “supercommittee” would achieve its deficit target by its Thanksgiving deadline."
 * Hensarling: ‘We’re Not Changing’ Deficit Panel Offer - Roll Call, Nov. 16, 2011
 * Democrats, Republicans far apart on deficit deal - AP, Nov. 16, 2011
 * Both Parties Embracing Use of War 'Drawdown' Funds for Deficit Package - National Journal, Nov. 15, 2011
 * Debt panel’s Camp, Van Hollen ‘kick around’ ideas - Washington Times, Nov. 14, 2011
 * GOP Aide Mocks Democrats' Super Proposal - Government Executive, Nov. 11, 2011
 * What If Super Committee Fails? Members Suggest Congress Would Rethink Sequestration - National Journal, Nov. 13, 2011
 * Deficit Panel Ponders Endgame - Politico, Nov. 13, 2011
 * GOP senators seek to divide and conquer deficit supercommittee - The Hill, Nov. 10, 2011
 * Hensarling Says GOP Not Done Dealing - Roll Call, Nov. 10, 2011
 * Democrats Leak $2.3 Trillion Proposal - The Hill, Nov. 10, 2011
 * GOP: Ball's in Democrats Court on Deficit Now - Politico, Nov. 9, 2011
 * Durbin, breaking with Dems, applauds GOP offer on taxes as a breakthrough - The Hill, Nov. 9, 2011
 * Both Sides Preparing For Super Failure - National Journal, Nov. 9, 2011
 * Public Split on Parties' Super Committee Ideas - National Journal, Nov. 9, 2011
 * Quick Take: Kerry Downplays GOP Proposal - National Journal, Nov. 8, 2011
 * Senate GOP: Willing to Accept Up to $300 Billion in Net Tax Increases - National Journal, Nov. 8, 2011
 * Republicans Put Revenue in the Mix - Politico, Nov. 7, 2011
 * Democratic Plan to Cut $3 Trillion Doesn't Mention Defense - The Atlantic Wire, Oct. 26, 2011
 * GOP Offers $2.2T in Deficit Cuts - The Hill, Oct. 27, 2011
 * Pelosi Cautions on Medicare, Social Security Cuts - The Sun News, Oct. 26, 2011
 * GOP Rejects Dems' Super Committee Offer; Talks 'Deadlocked' Over Taxes - CNN Politics, Oct. 26, 2011
 * Exclusive: Democrats Seek Up to $3 Trillion in Budget Savings - Reuters, Oct. 26, 2011
 * Republicans, Democrats Trade Barbs on Deficit Reduction - National Journal, Oct. 27, 2011
 * Boehner Rejects Dem Debt Proposal - The Hill, Oct. 27, 2011
 * Parties Still Far Apart on Supercommittee Deficit Deal - Politico, Oct. 27, 2011
 * Divergent Debt Plans Highlight Partisan Divide - Washington Times, Oct. 27, 2011
 * Boehner rejects Democrats’ $3 trillion deficit reduction proposal to ‘supercommittee’ - Washington Post, Oct. 27, 2011

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= Super Committee Members =

The members of the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction were selected by party leaders in the House and Senate. Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader in the House, and Harry Reid, Majority Leader in the Senate, selected the Democrats on the committee. John Boehner, Speaker of the House, and Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader in the Senate, selected the Republicans on the committee. The committee is co-chaired by Rep Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA).

House
See profiles on the House GOP and House Democrats.

Jeb Hensarling
Rep. Hensarling is a Republican from Texas' 5th congressional district and chairman of the Republican Conference. He will co-chair the committee. See his profile on Influence Explorer.

Dave Camp
Rep. Camp is a Republican from Michigan's 4th congressional district and chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. See his profile on Influence Explorer.

Fred Upton
Rep. Upton is a Republican from Michigan's 6th congressional district and chairman of the Energy and Commerce committee. See his profile on Influence Explorer

Chris Van Hollen
Rep. Van Hollen is a Democrat from Maryland's 8th congressional district and the ranking member on the House Budget Committee. See his profile on Influence Explorer.

Jim Clyburn
Rep. Clyburn is a Democrat representing South Carolina's 6th congressional district and a member of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. See his profile on Influence Explorer. of South Carolina and

Xavier Becerra
Rep. Becerra is a Democrat representing California's 31st congressional district and a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. See his profile on Influence Explorer.

Senate
See profiles on the Senate GOP and Senate Democrats.

Patty Murray
Sen. Murray is a Democrat from Washington state and chairs the Democratic campaign committee. She will co-chair the committee. See her profile on Influence Explorer

John Kerry
Sen. Kerry is a Democrat from Massachusetts and chairman of the Foreign Relations committee. He was also a presidential nominee in 2004. See his profile on Influence Explorer.

Max Baucus
Sen. Baucus is a Democrat from Montana and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. See his profile on Influence Explorer.

Jon Kyl
Sen. Kyl is a Republican from Arizona, the Senate minority whip, and a member of the Biden group. Sen. Kyle won’t be running for reelection in 2012. See his profile on Influence Explorer.

Pat Toomey
Sen. Toomey is a Republican from Pennsylvania and former president of Club for Growth, an anti-tax group and his top campaign contributor. See his profile on Influence Explorer.

Rob Portman
Sen. Portman is a Republican from Ohio and is a member of the Senate Committee On Homeland Security And Governmental Affairs and the Senate Budget Committee. See his profile on Influence Explorer