You may have missed this little nugget when it was first announced. I know I did.
'Super Congress': Debt Ceiling Negotiators Aim To Create New Legislative Body
by Ryan Grim, huffingtonpost.com -- 7/23/11
WASHINGTON -- Debt ceiling negotiators think they've hit on a solution to address the debt ceiling impasse and the public's unwillingness to let go of benefits such as Medicare and Social Security that have been earned over a lifetime of work: Create a new Congress.
This "Super Congress," composed of members of both chambers and both parties, isn't mentioned anywhere in the Constitution, but would be granted extraordinary new powers. Under a plan put forth by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and his counterpart Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), 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.
Legislation approved by the Super Congress -- which some on Capitol Hill are calling the "super committee" -- would then be fast-tracked through both chambers, where it couldn't be amended by simple, regular lawmakers, who'd have the ability only to cast an up or down vote. With the weight of both leaderships behind it, a product originated by the Super Congress would have a strong chance of moving through the little Congress and quickly becoming law.
Well that's just Super! (or is it just Stupid?)
What a Super-Duper way to Fast Track the changes, that the People don't really want.
Say, like cuts to the "Medicare, Medicare, and Social Security". Who wants those?
Who need public Debate and Deliberations, and CBO Projections -- when a Super-Duper Commission can shield us from all those painful details. Hurray!
Well the response of the Blogisphere to the idea of Congressional Super Heroes, seems to be a widely held: Hell NO!
(Not that, that will stop them. "Professional", knowledgeable opinions rarely do.)
Super Congress Moves Forward Despite Tea Party Opposition
by Ryan Grim, huffingtonpost.com -- 7/25/11
[...]
Erick Erickson, a leading conservative blogger, was equally dismissive of the joint committee. "For thirty years and seventeen debt commissions we have raised the national debt $13 trillion, seen taxes rise and fall and rise again, uncertainty come and go, and Washington remain unchanged," he wrote on his blog RedState. "And now some of you want to seek cover by having yet another commission -- but this time it will be different! Sure."
The liberal advocacy organization MoveOn.org, meanwhile, argued that any joint committee empowered to make cuts should specifically exempt Medicare and Social Security from cuts, and is organizing members in opposition. "[A]ny Joint Congressional Commission must be set up in such a way that it protects Social Security and Medicare benefits. Any plan that includes a backdoor to cut those vital programs is just as unacceptable as one that puts the cuts up front," said MoveOn head Justin Ruben.
Progressive opponents of the Super Congress, however, argue that its very purpose is to cut entitlements, so negotiating its parliamentary outline misses the point. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) told FireDogLake.com that he would approve of a "commission that makes recommendations," but not one empowered to send fast-track legislation to Congress. "But if it's got any kind of parliamentary advantage, then no," he said.
Who says Speaker Boehner doesn't know how to get stuff done? Damn right he does, it's called roll out the Steam Rollers, man ...
Two-Step Approach to Hold President Obama Accountable
posted by Speaker Boehner's Press Office on July 25, 2011
[...]
ENTITLEMENT REFORMS & SAVINGS
The framework creates a Joint Committee of Congress that is required to report legislation – by November 23, 2011 – that would produce a proposal to reduce the deficit by at least $1.8 trillion over 10 years. The committee would be made up of 12 members, three each appointed by the Speaker, House Minority Leader, Senator Majority leader and Senate Minority Leader. Co-chairs will be chosen by the Speaker and Senate Majority Leader. Each chamber would consider the proposal of the Joint Committee on an up-or-down basis without any amendments.
It would not be subject to filibuster in the Senate. If the proposal is enacted, then the President would be authorized to request a debt limit increase of $1.6 trillion. The goal of the committee would be to produce legislation that reforms entitlement programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, protect them from bankruptcy, and put them on a sounder financial footing.
The "Super Congress" would not be subject to filibuster ... Well how about being subject to a Veto? ... Hmmm it doesn't say? that's odd.
And what about opinions of the other 98% of Americans NOT represented by this New Ultra-Branch of Government?
( 12 / (435 + 100) ) = 2.24%
As long as were creating extra-constitutional Ways and Means, to pry the wealth of our Retirement Insurance Programs from those who worked for it, to pay off the Debts of our Costly Wars and our Billions in Giveaways to Big Pharma (Medicare Part D), left behind by a super-greedy Nation of Deatbeat Debtors ...
-- Shoot, Why don't we throw a few Corporate CEOs into the Super Committee Mix too. Corporations are people too, right. It's their Rights, we're all so intent on Protecting, these days.
-- Shoot, Why not a few of the Supreme Court Activists too, assuming that the CEOs get to pick them, that is. We don't need no bleeding heart liberals, fighting for the Underdogs, there. They would just gumm-up the works.
Hey -- Who needs a Constitution anyways, when we got Super Committees that can by-pass the messy details of actual Governing, of actually figuring out and representing WHAT the 98% of the Rest of Us really want?
Who needs that ... Really? There's Nothing "Super" about representing ordinary people, now is there?
That could lead to Raising Taxes on the Rich, or something -- and we CAN'T have that! ... Well you know, just because ... because they are the Job Creator Deities who's heralded wealth SHALL NOT be challenged, and SHALL NOT be touched, for the benefit of the unwashed masses ... never-ever!
The Committee has spoken. (Grover Norquist too.)
Somewhere, the Founders must be rolling over, in their graves ...