Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.)
Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif)
Dems Clyburn and Becerra Only Minorities on Debt Committee
Republicans Have No Minority or Woman Appointees-All White Males
Special from the AFRO-American newspapers
During her last round of picks for the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (“Debt Supercommittee”) intended to help solve the nation’s debt crisis, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi appointed Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C) and Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.), adding diversity to the important panel. The Democrats are also represented by the only woman on the committee, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA).
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-CA) said the debt super committee 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.”
