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The Spectacle Blog
Speaker of the House John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have announced their selections of Republicans to staff the “Super Congress” mandated by the debt limit deal, and neither Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan nor any House freshmen members were chosen.
Boehner appointed House Republican Conference chairman Jeb Hensarling of Texas to be the co-chair opposite Washington Senate Democrat Patty Murray, as well as two committee chairs: Ways & Means chairman Dave Camp and Energy & Commerce chairman Fred Upton, both of Michigan.
From the Senate, McConnell chose Jon Kyl of Arizona, Pat Toomey of Pennsyvania, and Rob Portman of Ohio.
Of the six Republicans named to the committee, only Toomey voted against the debt ceiling bill. None of the senators chosen were members of the Gang of Six who have already been working on similar issues for months.
Although Ryan was thought of as a natural choice for the co-chair of the Super Congress, he released a statement praising the picks and explaining that he had asked not to be included in order to continue working on deficit reform in his role as Budget Committee chief.
Instead, Hensarling will manage the Republicans’ negotiations. Hensarling is one of the most consistent Republican proponents of cutting spending.
With Max Baucus of Montana and John Kerry of Massachusetts rounding out the Senate Democratic selections, only Nancy Pelosi’s House Democrat picks remain to be seen.
Update: Toomey and Portman, of course, are freshman senators.
CalMark| 8.10.11 @ 11:59AM
There you have it. The fix is in.
"Light Bulb Fred," Boehner's RINO butt-buddy.
This is a monumental insult to the people who put Boehner and his jerk friends in power.
We need to get rid of Boehner--even if it means replacing him with a Democrat.
Have you considered| 8.10.11 @ 12:34PM
CalMark, you are correct, Boehner Must face a primary challenge. I heard this is on the Tea Party of Ohio's to do list.
Many of us predicted that this committee would be peopled with squishes.
Boehner said just prior to the debt deal being voted on that "he would Not appoint anybody who would be inclined to raise taxes" Even Quin Hiller said he wouldn't.....ya right.
Add that Kyl is a lame duck with no fear of the voters, and you can now bank on tax increases coming out of this committee.
Solo| 8.10.11 @ 12:07PM
Oh...I wouldn't go so far as to say that
Boehner needs to be replaced with a democrat.
But..he needs a serious challenge to his Speakership come 2013.
He's a disaster!
Trinacria| 8.10.11 @ 1:17PM
I've searched all the parks in all the cities and found no statues of committees.
-Chesterton
Zman| 8.10.11 @ 2:47PM
Get rid of all the Bums!
Zbigniew Mazurak| 8.10.11 @ 2:51PM
"Republican Super Congress Members: No Ryan, No Freshmen"
WRONG. Both Pat Toomey and Rob Portman are freshman Senators. Perhaps Lawler meant "Republican Super House Members." Had he written that, he would've been correct.
Oldefarte| 8.10.11 @ 4:51PM
Rumor has it that Botax Nancy will pick John Conyers, Jesse Jackson Jr and mandate Van Jones or Al Sharpton. Any truth to that????????
Nick| 8.10.11 @ 7:54PM
McConnell put Kyl on the select committee!
Kyl is retiring!
He has nothing to lose, so, don't be surprised when he votes to increase taxes, folks.