Monday

Meet the new Super Congress

Now, when Congress has agreed on a general framework to increase the debt ceiling, a party leaders ' Foreign Affairs Committee, lawmakers from both Chambers on the hash algorithm, the finer the details.

Under the new Act, the Federal Government will cover expenditure levels, about $ 1 trillion over 10 years and delegate responsibility slashing $ 1-$ 2 trillion on a powerful 12 members of the Committee.

No, is not it the gang of six (times two). This time it is called "Super Congress. "

The Committee of the six Republicans and six Democrats, makes most of its work behind closed doors, will have until November 23 to draw up a plan to reduce the budget deficit, which must pass both houses of Congress before Christmas.

When they come up with a plan that seven members accept, will go to both Chambers and can pass with only a simple majority. No delaying tactics, and no change allowed.

If, however, fail to find agreement, there is a "backup plan: the new law, Congress set a number of" triggers, "which will automatically reduce the spending levels across the Board if the group cannot well in his work. If the negotiations, billion units for its consideration and the defense budget will be automatically applied, with none of the parties to talk about the details.

The negotiations, of course, is not expected to be easy. Democrats insist that tax hikes are included in the plan committee , Republican proposal still refuses to consider.

"Everything is on the table for that Committee, " said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney. "Entitlement reform and tax reform. And let ' s be clear, the President thought that perhaps the greatest achievement as a whole, in terms of deficit reduction, is the desired goal, for it balanced. "

For the Republicans and the Liberal Democrats, it remains much skepticism of the ability of the group find a solid solution.

Right to worry that the Democrats will still have to convince one Republican to join them in raising taxes.

"The context of ' ' triggers are not available and a new Committee of 12 members of the House-Senate opens the door to dangerous national security cuts and raises the possibility that six Democrats and one Republican wrong could rush tax increases in House and Senate floor," said Ohio Republican REP. Jim Jordan Republic, Chairman of the conservative Republican study.

The left has similar concerns, as the key for even more cuts to programs that help the poor without raising taxes on the rich.

And who will sit on the Committee of the Almighty? Details of Super Congress "membership are still pending. Since this small group is likely to determine the details of the budget of the federal government for the next ten years, , each opening are undoubtedly had a post office on Capitol Hill.

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