Today marks the deadline for Congressional standing
committees to submit recommendations for spending cuts or revenue increases to
the Super Committee (officially known as the Joint Select Committee on Deficit
Reduction). The clock is ticking
as the Super Committee races (often behind closed doors) to meet its November
23rd deadline to report out a bill with at least $1.5 trillion in deficit
reduction over the next ten years.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi submitted
recommendations for
revenue increases and savings from 16 ranking committee members. In submitting the list of
recommendations, she wrote:
“All areas of the budget should be subject to
consideration in developing a balanced approach to deficit reduction, and a
fair and substantial revenue component is both essential and overwhelmingly
supported by the American people on a bipartisan basis. Working together,
I am confident we can find a basis for a big, bold, and balanced solution that
ensures that America remains Number One in the world.”
House Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Henry Waxman and
House Ways and Means Ranking Member Sander Levin both pointed out that the
Affordable Care Act would produce health care savings and should not be
tampered with until it has had time to work. They also urged the committee to refrain from tactics that
would simply shift costs to states, providers, individuals and families.