Super Failure

“Failure is not an option.” “Well, maybe it is.” Such sums up the work of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (JSC) formed last August with the task of finding $1.2-1.5 trillion in deficit savings during the next decade. Some sort of cobbled-together semi-deal may emerge from …

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Written by Steve Bell on Monday November 21, 2011

The Republican Supercommittee Offer

Question for the supercommittee: Suppose the real purpose of this exercise is to frame the choice for 2012. Dems are offering the country a path to budget balance that relies heavily on tax increases. Republicans are offering a path that relies more heavily on spending cuts. OK, got it. If …

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Written by David Frum on Friday November 18, 2011

Will the Super Committee Act Out of Fear?

“Messiness” has been a prime characteristic of legislation since the days of Solon. So, the mess surrounding the operations of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction and Congress’ “work” on a jobs bill shouldn’t surprise anyone. What does always seem to surprise observers almost every …

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Written by Steve Bell on Friday October 7, 2011