U.S. 'Super-Committee' Fails to Reach a Deal

After months of debate, the twelve members of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, also known as the United States congressional “super-committee” has failed to reach a deal to cut 1.2 trillion dollars in spending.  This means that automatic spending cuts will begin in 2013. A statement from the super-committee led by Representative Jeb Hensarling (R) of Texas and Senator Patty Murray (D) of Washington released this statement to the press announcing the failure to produce a bipartisan result:

Despite our inability to bridge the committee's significant differences, we end this process united in our belief that the nation's fiscal crisis must be addressed and that we cannot leave it for the next generation to solve.  We remain hopeful that Congress can build on this committee’s work and can find a way to tackle this issue in a way that works for the American people and our economy.

President Obama also released a statement regarding the failure of the committee.

“Already members of congress are trying to undo some of the automatic spending cuts. My answer is no. I will veto any effort to get rid of those spending cuts to domestic and defense spending. There will be no easy off ramps on this one,” the President stated.

Earlier today, NPR reported four significant problems with the super-committee that could have led to its failure including the fact that the committee had an even amount of members (six democrats and six republicans) leading to the possibility that the committee could end up deadlocked.

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