House speaker John Boehner has chosen Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas to be co-chair of the joint select committee on deficit reduction, or the so-called supercommittee. Reps. Dave Camp and Fred Upton, both of Michigan, were also selected by Boehner to represent the House Republicans on the supercommittee. Meanwhile, Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell has chosen fellow senators Jon Kyl of Arizona, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, and Rob Portman of Ohio as the GOP Senate representatives.

Hensarling, Camp, and Upton are veteran House members with establishment credibility. Hensarling is a member of the House leadership, Camp is chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, and Upton is chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.