Here is aquote from John Boehner:
"With all that's at stake, I expect that the joint select committee will conduct its work in the open and transparent manner the American people deserve."
I suggest we take him up on that !
Given the composition of the Super Committee, I expect that we lose 7 to 5 since there are 7 Republicans on the Committee and only 5 Democratic Congresspeople. This means, in all probability, we get all social safety net cuts and no tax revenue increases.
Here is our list:
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) appointed his deputy, Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), former Bush budget director Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Tea Party favorite Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.).
Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) appointed Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.), Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and House Republican Conference Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) to serve on the panel. Hensarling will serve as co-chairman.
Reid appointed Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-Wash.).
We are still waiting on Leader Pelosi to make her selections.
Given the likely outcome, I, at least, want transparency out of this committee.
I want the American public to know exactly what "deals" are being offered, what statements are made by all members...
I want transcripts, I want video, I want reports of what is taking place in that committee. I demand it !
If they are not afraid to make public where they stand, why oppose it ?
Are they afraid to own their statements and positions ?
Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security are the most popular and successful programs that this country has ever had. Did I mention that they are popular and the public does not want them cut ? A record of the 7 Republicans attempt to destroy it and not offer any tax revenue increases would be political suicide. Unfortunately, it will hurt our national brand too, but, at this point, that is set in stone, already. They will try to use us as cover, of course. Theirhistory of opposition makes them less credible. However, anything said or done by any "Democratic Congressperson" will hurt us some, but not as much as their demands will hurt them.
Again, Boehner said that he expected transparency. Let us tell him to put his money where his mouth is. Why oppose transparency, especially when he said that he expected it ? Let us take him up on that. We should demand C Span there, transcripts, document everything, and reports on the "offers" and counteroffers" !
Let us make sure that all on the Supercommittee who go along with destroying our social safety net are aware that there will be a huge political cost to pay for it.
Recall that we have not even actually be pushing for marginal tax rate increases for the wealthy exclusively. Primarily, we have emphasized an increase in tax revenue.
Secondarily, we have focused in on closing loopholes that benefit the wealthy.
Will the upcoming expiration of the Bush tax cuts affect the negotiations ? I do not know. Ezra seems to indicate that we cannot actually require an earlier expiration of the tax cuts for the wealthy. And when the tax cuts for the wealthy expire, so do the tax cuts for ordinary Americans. They are tied together in legislation. Decoupling them might be difficult. Of course, we could try and pass a bill that starts those tax cuts for ordinary Americans again without reference to the previous tax cuts passed under Bush, having them start when the previous tax cuts expire. If House Republicans balk, we can call them on it: do you oppose tax cuts ?
Ezra Klein embraces this :
The proof is in the plans. The Simpson-Bowles commission called for almost $2 trillion in new revenue over the next 10 years. It got $800 billion of that from letting the Bush tax cuts for the rich expire, and the rest from clearing loopholes and spending programs out of the tax code. That plan won the support of Republican Sens. Tom Coburn (Okla.), Judd Gregg (N.H.) and Mike Crapo (Idaho) — three conservatives in good standing.