August 14, 2011
Dems Clyburn and Becerra Only Minorities on Debt Committee
Republicans Have No Minority or Woman Appointees - All White Males
Rep. Clyburn
Rep. Becerra
Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from the Afro American Newspapers
The 12-member bipartisan panel will have until November to decide how the country should save $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years, Bloomberg Businessweek reported.
Pelosi (D-Calif.) said the Debt Supercommittee would have three main goals: To focus economic growth and job creation to reduce debt; make financial decisions regarding investments, cuts and revenues; and offer recommendations to help reduce the country’s dependence credit.
“Because the work of this committee will affect all Americans, I called last week for its deliberations to be transparent; the committee should conduct its proceedings in the open,” Pelosi said in an Aug. 11 press release.
While the 12-member panel is split evenly between Republicans and Democrats, seven votes must be made to send a final recommendation to Congress for consideration—which means at least one lawmaker must back the plan of the opposing party.
“It's not going to be simple to come to a deal,” said Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
Clyburn is currently the third-ranking member of the House Democratic Leadership, with experience on the Appropriations Committee. Pelosi in a statement called Clyburn a “vigorous spokesperson for jobs and economic development.”