This morning, the “super committee” on deficit reduction had its first public meeting, and all 12 members made opening statements that stressed bipartisanship and expressed high hopes for the panel.
Both Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Pat Toomey, R-Pa., said that they should aim for savings exceeding the required $1.5 trillion.
“My goal for this committee is to begin by seeking common ground,” Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., said.
Not to be outdone, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., declared, “We have to find not common ground but higher ground. Thoughout our history, Democrats and Republicans had deep disagreements, but they had an even deeper commitment to the strength of success of our country.”
All members emphasized the need to address the unsustainable debt burden and to create jobs.
Today’s happy talk will no doubt dissipate as the weeks and months go by, and both parties stake out their positions.
The meeting was disrupted by protestors who stood outside the hearing room shouting, “Jobs! Now!”
After the opening statements, the committee voted unanimously to approve rules governing its upcoming meetings and then adjourned until next week.
