Super Congress, really???

What will they think of next? Every time John Boehner starts to reassure me he comes up with another idea that makes me cringe. Boehner supports a plan conceived by Mitch McConnell and Harry Reid. The legislation to lift the debt ceiling would be accompanied by the creation of a 12-member panel made up of 12 lawmakers, six from each chamber and six from each party. Such a committee, which some have called a “Super Congress” or a “super committee”, reportedly would have special powers which currently are unconstitutional. In the plan the debt ceiling would be raised by one trillion dollars for a period coupled with an equal dollar figure of cuts over a ten year period. A second increase in the debt ceiling would be tied to the creation of this Super Congress that would be required to find a minimum amount of spending cuts.

The debt ceiling date is August 2 if Congress does not approve additional borrowing. Republicans have insisted the White House agree to deep spending cuts for long-term deficit reduction before they approve any increase in America's debt burden. Republican leaders would like to show progress before Monday and before 4pm ET on Sunday when the financial market trading begins in Asia.

The Balanced Budget amendment was bad enough, now they want to create another unconstitutional congressional body with unprecedented powers that go far beyond that are a regular member of Congress. Multiple news reports and people familiar with his plan say, House Speaker John Boehner has made this a central part of his last-minute proposal. What is John Boehner thinking, does this make any sense? I don't think so.

Cheers,

Mike