Deficit "super committee" gets to work

CBS/AP

With just a few short months to come up with a plan for significant budget savings, the leaders of the congressional deficit "super committee" said in a statement today that they're busy devising a plan of action.

"In our capacity as co-chairmen, we are 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," Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington and Republican Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas said in a statement.

CBSNews.com special report: America's debt battle

Murray and Hensarling are leading the group of 12 congressmen chosen for the "super committee" formed as part of the deal President Obama struck with congressional Republicans to raise the debt ceiling. The group is charged with finding at least $1.2 trillion in deficit cuts by Thanksgiving.

Murray and Hensarling acknowledged the challenge ahead of them in the statement. "We are confident that most Americans will agree that when building an organization from the ground-up with a short time-table for success, it's important to get it right the first time," they said.

Most of the 12 congressmen are reviewing the deficit reduction proposals that other groups have put forward over the past several years, the co-chairs said. Members from both sides of the aisle are "eager to engage one another," they said.

In addition to Murray and Hensarling, the super committee members are: Democratic Reps. Chris Van Hollen (Md.), Xavier Becerra (Calif.), and James Clyburn (S.C.); Republican Reps. Dave Camp (Mich.) and Fred Upton (Mich.); Republican Sens. Jon Kyl (Ariz.), Pat Toomey (Pa.), and Rob Portman (Ohio); and Democratic Sens. Max Baucus (Mont.) and John Kerry (Mass.).

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Facts about the debt

[freedom8246]

Those In washington already gave up thier political strong hold on the American People. When they passed into law Every American now has thier legal rights restored to know who put them into debt.

This has broken the chains for America and all of its people.Because they now have set America and The The American free from finnacial BONDAGE ONCE MORE. Because Those In Washington Created The Ponzi scems and scams that is stealing americans Homes the food from thier tables and the cloths from Families Backs. What They do not have in Washington Dc. Is the Knowledge Of How to Use Money for what it was Intented in the first place. Secondly with the Jobs and wages they have been creating and the prices for living any where in America is way to high. example $13.00 Hr $2080.00 MO. Now just to survive a family of 3 to 4 are spending 250% of their Monthly incomes each month just to survive. Let Those in Washington figure this Money problem out for those Americans who are homeless and can not find work

Dale Bennington Viet NAM VET 100% disabled and still fighting for America and all of its people
1 352 340 5852 lets see if the Presidents calls this number this time. We have asked him about 500 times since 2008

[tsigili]

A conference call, to discuss the political aspects of the Dems, is hardly, "getting to work"!

[gep1955]

No phoney committee like this would be necessary if the dems who controlled all three branches for two years had the courage to do what was right for the nation and not spend/borrow $4 trillion more on give away programs to buy votes instead of stopping the waste and fraud that drains most programs already.

[cktirumalai]

Will the members of the super committeee metamorphose into statesmen or remain mere politicians?
Candadai Tirumalai

[dantom39]

And another nothing

[spike54321]

Retm, Blame it on the repubs all you want. The truth is both parties got us into this mess and both parties have to get us out. If you are really looking to point fingers, digest this. Just a week before the deficit ceiling vote, there was a vote to reduce funding for the National Endowment for the arts by a measly 10 million. All dems voted against the reduced funding, along with a few repubs. Who do you think is going to have a hard time with reducing government spending?

[starman5409]

Lets hope they come up with some actual ideas and plans, instead of just arguing about what others aren't doing.

[b4uigo]

Patty Murray is co-chair? bwahahaha... She may be perhaps the dumbest Senator ever elected. Reed really picked a great one there.

[david4673]

Let's hope Senator and Deacon extraordinaire, Tom Coburn doesn't show up at their meeting with the coffee and doughnuts.... and his gun.

[Martha12345]

Don't expect much and you won't be disappointed.

[retm-w]

Everyone of the republicans are tea party, don't expect anything to get done, that was boehners idea.