6 Republicans named to deficit “Super Committee”

The six Republican members of the new deficit-reduction "super committee" were announced on Wednesday. The 12-member committee, officially called the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, is charged with finding ways to reduce federal deficits by $1.5 trillion over 10 years.

The committee's three Republican House members, chosen by Speaker John Boehner, are Congressmen Jeb Hensarling (R-Tex.), Dave Camp (R-Mich.) and Fred Upton (R-Mich.). Hensarling will co-chair the committee with Democratic Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), whose appointment was announced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Tuesday.

From the Senate, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell chose Senators Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Pat Toomey (R-Penn.).

"All three of these appointees understand the gravity of our situation and all three will bring the kind of responsibility, creativity, and thoughtfulness that the moment requires," McConnell said in a statement.

The New York Times reports that two of the Republican committee members, Upton and Portman, have a history of working with Democrats, while Toomey "supports eliminating tax breaks like the subsidies for ethanol."

The committee is supposed to come up with recommendations by November 23. If it fails, or Congress rejects its recommendations, automatic spending cuts will kick in across the board.

Reuters named McConnell's appointment of Toomey, a Tea Party favorite, "a move that could deadlock the 12-member panel over taxes," but FBR Capital Markets policy analyst Ed Mills told the agency that "[t]he best news is that we have avoided appointment of any bomb-throwers."

Mills predicted that Portman, who served as director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget during the Bush administration, would be the star of the panel. The Times also suggested that Portman could be central to any deal:

If just one panel member crosses party lines, the committee can send its recommendations to the floor of the House and the Senate for up-or-down votes without amendments. If a deal is to be struck in the middle, it is likely to involve Mr. Portman, Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts and perhaps Senator Max Baucus of Montana, Congressional aides said.

Kerry and Baucus were appointed Tuesday along with Murray. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi has until Tuesday to fill the three remaining seats on the committee.