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Debt supercommittee goes to work

The bipartisan committee, tasked with coming up with $1.5 trillion in deficit cuts, holds its first official public meeting.

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Sept. 8, 2011

The 12-member Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction conducts an organizational meeting on Capitol Hill. The panel has until Thanksgiving to come up with $1.5 trillion in deficit savings over the next decade or else trigger $1.2 trillion in across-the-board spending cuts.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

“This committee has the opportunity to show the American people we can still come together, put politics aside and solve a problem plaguing our country,” said Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the panel’s co-chair.

Sept. 8, 2011

“This committee has the opportunity to show the American people we can still come together, put politics aside and solve a problem plaguing our country,” said Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the panel’s co-chair.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

The panel held its first public session, an organizational and introductory gathering, on the same day that President Obama presented his jobs creation proposal to Congress and the nation. “I hope it would be obvious to all that deficit reduction and a path to fiscal stability are themselves a jobs program,” said Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Tex), left, the panel’s other co-chair.

Sept. 8, 2011

The panel held its first public session, an organizational and introductory gathering, on the same day that President Obama presented his jobs creation proposal to Congress and the nation. “I hope it would be obvious to all that deficit reduction and a path to fiscal stability are themselves a jobs program,” said Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Tex), left, the panel’s other co-chair.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

In a series of optimistic opening statements in which committee members promised to work in a bipartisan spirit, they also worked to tie their efforts to Congress’s broader work on job creation.

Sept. 8, 2011

In a series of optimistic opening statements in which committee members promised to work in a bipartisan spirit, they also worked to tie their efforts to Congress’s broader work on job creation.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.), left, and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.). “We can’t fix jobs without fixing our budget, and we can’t fix our budget without fixing jobs,” Kerry said.

Sept. 8, 2011

Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.), left, and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.). “We can’t fix jobs without fixing our budget, and we can’t fix our budget without fixing jobs,” Kerry said.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash) with Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.). Speaking later in the day at a conference, Kyl said he would quit the supercommittee if the group moves to cut more deeply into defense spending, according to several reports.

Sept. 8, 2011

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash) with Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.). Speaking later in the day at a conference, Kyl said he would quit the supercommittee if the group moves to cut more deeply into defense spending, according to several reports.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), left, Patrick Toomey (R-Pa), center, and Jon Kyl (R-Ariz) at the conclusion of the panel’s meeting.

Sept. 8, 2011

Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), left, Patrick Toomey (R-Pa), center, and Jon Kyl (R-Ariz) at the conclusion of the panel’s meeting.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Beyond the pledges of cooperation, members’ opening statements contained some hints of the disagreements that have separated the parties on deficit reduction.Several Democrats said the group must find a “balanced” approach to the task, suggesting that the group must raise revenue through taxes as they cut spending. Republicans endorsed addressing the tax code as part of the committee’s work but promised to do so in a way to promote growth, which could mean cutting taxes.

Sept. 8, 2011

Beyond the pledges of cooperation, members’ opening statements contained some hints of the disagreements that have separated the parties on deficit reduction.Several Democrats said the group must find a “balanced” approach to the task, suggesting that the group must raise revenue through taxes as they cut spending. Republicans endorsed addressing the tax code as part of the committee’s work but promised to do so in a way to promote growth, which could mean cutting taxes.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Protesters briefly disrupt the committee’s meeting. Protesters in the hallway outside the Rayburn committee meeting loudly chanted: “What do we want? Jobs! When do we want them? Now!”

Sept. 8, 2011

Protesters briefly disrupt the committee’s meeting. Protesters in the hallway outside the Rayburn committee meeting loudly chanted: “What do we want? Jobs! When do we want them? Now!”

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

A protester sits in the audience at the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction organizational meeting.

Sept. 8, 2011

A protester sits in the audience at the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction organizational meeting.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

After weekly Senate policy luncheons, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill about the supercommittee’s responsibilities,.

Sept. 7, 2011

After weekly Senate policy luncheons, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill about the supercommittee’s responsibilities,.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) speaks to reporters about the upcoming meeting of the 12-member deficit-reduction panel.

Sept. 7, 2011

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) speaks to reporters about the upcoming meeting of the 12-member deficit-reduction panel.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Baucus serves as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Baucus has played a key role in negotiating other contentious legislation, most notably the health-care overhaul bill that passed in 2010. He also led the Democratic opposition to the GOP's plans in 2005 to reform Social Security.

Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.)

Baucus serves as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Baucus has played a key role in negotiating other contentious legislation, most notably the health-care overhaul bill that passed in 2010. He also led the Democratic opposition to the GOP's plans in 2005 to reform Social Security.

Joshua Roberts / Bloomberg

Becerra is a member on the House Ways and Means Committee. He worked closely on budget issues previously when he was part of President Obama's bipartisan fiscal commission. However, he ultimately did not support the panel's final report, saying in a statement he believed it 'fell short' in a few areas, including defense spending, tax reform and job creation.

Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.)

Becerra is a member on the House Ways and Means Committee. He worked closely on budget issues previously when he was part of President Obama's bipartisan fiscal commission. However, he ultimately did not support the panel's final report, saying in a statement he believed it "fell short" in a few areas, including defense spending, tax reform and job creation.

Harry Hamburg / AP

Camp also served on the Simpson-Bowles commission. Like Becerra, he did not vote in favor of its final proposal. He said in a statement that it didn’t go far enough to reduce health-care spending and that he objected to its provisions for tax increases. He is a passionate advocate of tax reform.

Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.)

Camp also served on the Simpson-Bowles commission. Like Becerra, he did not vote in favor of its final proposal. He said in a statement that it didn’t go far enough to reduce health-care spending and that he objected to its provisions for tax increases. He is a passionate advocate of tax reform.

Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

In July, as tensions were running high in the debt-ceiling negotiations and it was unclear whether lawmakers would be able to reach a deal, Clyburn urged President Obama to raise the debt ceiling by executive order so as to avoid default. The House Assistant Democratic Leader is one of only two minority members of the supercommittee. The group's lack of diversity has drawn criticism from some analysts and even other lawmakers.

Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.)

In July, as tensions were running high in the debt-ceiling negotiations and it was unclear whether lawmakers would be able to reach a deal, Clyburn urged President Obama to raise the debt ceiling by executive order so as to avoid default. The House Assistant Democratic Leader is one of only two minority members of the supercommittee. The group's lack of diversity has drawn criticism from some analysts and even other lawmakers.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Hensarling is one of the supercommittee’s co-chairmen, along with Sen. Patty Murray. During Congress's August recess, he and Murray released a statement saying they were 'engaging in serious discussions to determine what set of rules will govern the committee's operation, examining a schedule of potential meetings and exploring how to build a committee staff that will help us achieve success.'

Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Tex.)

Hensarling is one of the supercommittee’s co-chairmen, along with Sen. Patty Murray. During Congress's August recess, he and Murray released a statement saying they were "engaging in serious discussions to determine what set of rules will govern the committee's operation, examining a schedule of potential meetings and exploring how to build a committee staff that will help us achieve success."

Carolyn Kaster / AP

This former presidential candidate is a member of the Senate Finance Committee. During the fierce debate over the debt ceiling in July, Kerry memorably told Senate colleagues that the Chinese were 'laughing all the way to the bank' over the prospect that the U.S.'s credit would be downgraded.

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.)

This former presidential candidate is a member of the Senate Finance Committee. During the fierce debate over the debt ceiling in July, Kerry memorably told Senate colleagues that the Chinese were "laughing all the way to the bank" over the prospect that the U.S.'s credit would be downgraded.

Musadeq Sadeq / AP

Kyl, a staunch conservative, serves on the Senate Finance Committee. He was part of the Biden-led deficit talks but ultimately followed his Republican colleague Eric Cantor in pulling out of the negotiations.

Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.)

Kyl, a staunch conservative, serves on the Senate Finance Committee. He was part of the Biden-led deficit talks but ultimately followed his Republican colleague Eric Cantor in pulling out of the negotiations.

Alex Brandon / AP

Patty Murray will act as co-chairwoman of the super committee. Some Republicans were critical of Murray's appointment because she is already chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. They worried that the need to reach a bipartisan agreement with her GOP colleagues might conflict with the strongly partisan nature of her responsibilities at the DSCC.

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.)

Patty Murray will act as co-chairwoman of the super committee. Some Republicans were critical of Murray's appointment because she is already chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. They worried that the need to reach a bipartisan agreement with her GOP colleagues might conflict with the strongly partisan nature of her responsibilities at the DSCC.

Elaine Thompson / AP

Portman is widely regarded as an expert on budget issues. Before coming to the senate, he worked in two Republican White Houses, including as director of the Office of Management and Budget under President George W. Bush.

Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio)

Portman is widely regarded as an expert on budget issues. Before coming to the senate, he worked in two Republican White Houses, including as director of the Office of Management and Budget under President George W. Bush.

NIcholas Kamm / AFP/Getty Images

Toomey, a former businessman, is the one panel member to oppose the recent debt compromise.

Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.)

Toomey, a former businessman, is the one panel member to oppose the recent debt compromise.

Alex Brandon / AP

Liberal environmental groups slammed Upton’s appointment to the group. They expressed disapproval over his close ties to the oil industry, whose tax breaks are being reconsidered.

Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.)

Liberal environmental groups slammed Upton’s appointment to the group. They expressed disapproval over his close ties to the oil industry, whose tax breaks are being reconsidered.

Charles Dharapak / AP

Van Hollen is the ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee. He was a participant in the debt-ceiling talks lead by Vice President Biden that ultimately did not produce a formal proposal.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.)

Van Hollen is the ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee. He was a participant in the debt-ceiling talks lead by Vice President Biden that ultimately did not produce a formal proposal.

J. Scott Applewhite / AP

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