3/8/12

Blame, Uncertainty as Supercommittee Gives In U.S. Congress | The Texas Tribune

Register
FRONT PAGE TOPICS DATA BLOGS DIRECTORY MULTIMEDIA EVENTS TEXAS WEEKLY

Search...
Census 2012 Races

Public Ed

Higher Ed

Health Reform

Redistricting

Energy

Water

Death penalty

Immigration

US CONGRESS

U.S. CONGRESS

Blame, Uncertainty as Supercommittee Gives In

by Elizabeth Titus
Print

Sign up for Texas Tribune alerts

Get daily coverage delivered to your inbox

11/22/2011
Republish

19 Comments
Share Comment Email Tweet Recommend

Enter Your Email

SUBMIT

Recommend

WASHINGTON The so-called supercommittee's admission of defeat Monday raised new questions about the way forward for Congress and the trickle-down effects for politics and federal spending in Texas. Congresss deficit-reducing supercommittee, co-chaired by U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling, RDallas, said it could not reach a deal by its deadline. The move also drew the ire of many Texas lawmakers unhappy with the Democratic Party, the White House and Washington in general as they face an uncertain, messy end to the legislative year.
Enlarge

Be the first of your

The Tribune thanks our Supporting Sponsors

The supercommittee is a panel of 12 lawmakers three Republicans and three Democrats each from the U.S. House and Senate appointed as part of last summer's debt-ceiling deal. Their charge was to find at least $1.2 trillion in 10-year deficit reductions or risk triggering that amount in cuts to defense and domestic programs over the decade. For procedural reasons, their Nov. 23 deadline made agreement on a plan necessary by Monday. After months of open hearings and closed-door negotiations, lawmakers indicated over the weekend that the possibility of a deal was fading.
The Tribune thanks our Supporting Sponsors

NE W ON THE TRI B

Perry Calls Liberal Critics of Rush Limbaug Hypocrites

by Jay Root March 8, 2012 (1)

Lozano Makes GOP Switch Official, Calls Dems Bullies

by Julin Aguilar March 8, 2012 (18)

The Texas Tribune Weekend Insider

by Justin Dehn March 8, 2012

Updated: Super PAC Targeting Incumbent Gets First Win One major sticking point was tax rates for the most wealthy, according to reports and party leaders statements that came as the committees prospects dimmed. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said on Twitter that Republicans insisted on expanding tax giveaways to millionaires. The office of House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said the supercommittee failed because President Obama and Washington Democrats insisted on dramatic tax hikes on American job
by Emily Ramshaw March 8, 2012 (11)

texastribune.org/texas-representatives-in-congress//blame-uncertainty-supercommittee-gives/

1/4

3/8/12

Blame, Uncertainty as Supercommittee Gives In U.S. Congress | The Texas Tribune

creators, which would make our economy worse, The Hillreported. The demise proves deficit-cutting will persist as a nasty problem in Washington. If and when Texas voters take that out on Hensarling or other incumbents remains an open question. Texas politics Hensarlings moment to shine as a deal broker on the supercommittee has passed, but local fallout for him is doubtful, said Jonathan Neerman, the former chairman of the Dallas County GOP. The failure to reach a deal could even look like a win to conservatives. Right or wrong, I think that the conservative stalwarts who wanted no tax increases will see this as a victory," Neerman said. "I think they would rather see no deal than a deal that adds tax increases. Hensarling was first elected to Congress in 2002. He is chairman of the House Republican Conference, and his appointment to co-lead the supercommittee with Sen. Patty Murray, DWash., was closely watched. He will still have the Dallas business community to contend with. Developers and lenders are looking for certainty about the federal budget, regulations and tax codes, Neerman said. Lastminute scrambling in Washington does little to clear up that picture. But Hensarlings good local reputation can buoy him, and the supercommittees flop will be a wonky, difficult campaign issue, he said.
The Tribune thanks our Supporting Sponsors

Shared
Login

Viewed

Commente

You need to be logged into Facebook to see your friends' recommendations.

Women's Clinics Retreat as Finances Are Cut, by Emily Ramshaw and Pam Belluck The New York Times 113 people recommend this. Hundreds Protest Possible Demise of Women's Health Program , by Holly Heinrich 106 people recommend this.

He is so well thought-of in his district and by conservative Republicans around the region that I don't think therell be any negative impact on him," Neerman said. "Voters will see this as a Washington problem." U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, said the breakdown would do little to help members of an already unpopular Congress. You cant underestimate the public, Cuellar said. Ive always said this. They know whats going on. They know whos been the stumbling block. Tom Pauken, the former chairman of the Texas GOP, said he doesnt see the potential for much further damage for incumbents. Im not sure that people are going to pay any more of a price in Congress for not getting a deal than they have already, because my sense is you have a very low opinion," said Pauken, who is now chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission. In a joint statement Monday evening, Hensarling and Murray said that despite the committees failure, we end this process united in our belief that the nation's fiscal crisis must be addressed and that we cannot leave it for the next generation to solve. Defense spending If last-resort spending cuts go into effect in 2013 as planned, billions fewer dollars in defense spending could flow to states. That could hit Texas hard. Fort Hood, for example, ranks behind only Washington in top places for military spending on personnel and contracts," according to a new Bloomberg Government study. Under last summers plan, roughly half the cuts would be to defense programs and half to domestic programs.

texastribune.org/texas-representatives-in-congress//blame-uncertainty-supercommittee-gives/

2/4

3/8/12

Blame, Uncertainty as Supercommittee Gives In U.S. Congress | The Texas Tribune

Hensarling indicated he hoped the 50-50 ratio could change before the cuts hit, The Associated Press reported. Some Senate Republicans have pledged legislation to do that, but President Barack Obama and Boehner have both indicated they would oppose such efforts. U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, one of Texas most outspoken voices on defense, supports finding a way to cut at least $1.2 trillion that does not jeopardize the effectiveness of our military, spokesman Mike Rosen said in an email. If there is a way to determine such cuts before 2013, McCaul would support it, Rosen said. Cuellar, another prominent voice on the U.S. military and on border security, said he opposed repealing the automatic cuts but suggested he was open to modifying them. Will it have an impact? Yes it will, Cuellar said. Its going to be one that could be affecting everybody. Now, can we set priorities? Yes, definitely we can. Delegation reactions The Texas delegation on Monday expressed plenty of frustration, even before Hensarling and Murray officially called it quits. I am ready to protect Fort Bliss, its personnel and troops, from any proposed cuts or downsizing due to [Republicans] inability on the supercommittee to come together and work for the common good of our country, Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, said in a statement. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, a Republican who is retiring at the end of her term, said in a statement that deficit reduction must be the single-minded goal of Congress for the remainder of this year, and if necessary, for the remainder of next year. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Lewisville, criticized the committee for blowing its deadline. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Lake Jackson, blasted the group for failing to cut even a laughably small amount. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Conroe, said that while the automatic cuts are not perfect, they are necessary, and he opposes lowering the amount. And Reps. John Carter, R-Round Rock, and Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, on Twitter called for a return to the regular legislative process. In his typically colorful way, Gohmert added: Let wimps go to Greece w/other weak reps.
Print Republish Share Comment Email Tweet Recommend

RE LATE D CONTE NT

RE LATE D TOP I CS Front Page Ron Paul U.S. Congress

Gohmert Votes No on Balanced Budget Amendment

by Elizabeth Titus November 18, 2011 (18)

Randy Neugebauer: The TT Interview

by Elizabeth Titus November 1, 2011 (10)

Back To Top

WE THANK OUR SPONSORS

texastribune.org/texas-representatives-in-congress//blame-uncertainty-supercommittee-gives/

3/4

3/8/12
WRIT ERS Becca Aaronson Julin Aguilar Justin Dehn Kate Galbraith Brandi Grissom Reeve Hamilton Ayan Mittra Ryan Murphy David Muto Ben Philpott Ross Ramsey Emily Ramshaw Jay Root Evan Smith Morgan Smith Thanh Tan

Blame, Uncertainty as Supercommittee Gives In U.S. Congress | The Texas Tribune

T O PICS 2011 Budget Shortfall Rainy Day Fund Texas-Mexico border 82nd Session Transcripts Tom DeLay Wind Energy Texas Government Payroll Immigration 2011 House Speaker's Race T T SO CIAL MEDIA Texas Legislature Texas Ethics Commission Higher education Environmental Problems and Pol Redistricting Texas Department of Transporta Death penalty Voter ID Social Studies Standards Debat YouTube Vimeo Twitter Facebook 2012 The Texas Tribune Terms of Service Privacy Policy About Us Contact Us Feeds Mobile Advertise

Donate

texastribune.org/texas-representatives-in-congress//blame-uncertainty-supercommittee-gives/

4/4