Countdown to the Cuts: The Super Committee's Timeline
The 12-member bipartisan Super Committee tasked with finding at least $1.2 trillion in cuts has a little over a six weeks before they have to send their plan to Congress and there is no deal in sight. The committee just announced the schedule for its first public hearing in weeks for Oct. 26 when they will discuss "Discretionary Outlays, Security and Non-Security." Making matters worse, the House and Senate will be on recess during alternating weeks during October and November, which could disrupt negotiations as the clock ticks down (it wouldn't be the first time). Here's a look at the important dates for the Super Committee going forward.
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Today: Behind closed doors, the Super Committee met with the bipartisan "Gang of Six," which elaborated on its deficit cutting plan from earlier this year which recommended $3.7 million in cuts over ten years, National Journal reported. Besides that, members have remained tight-lipped on the two groups discussed in terms of specific cuts or tax hikes. “I think it would be inappropriate for me to say any more," Sen. Kent Conrad told Billy House.
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Oct. 19 to Oct. 21: Recess time for the House
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Oct. 26: The committee meets to discuss discretionary outlays for security and non-security purposes. According to National Journal "The 10 a.m. hearing will feature more testimony from Congressional Budget Office Director Doug Elmendorf. He testified last month at a hearing that looked into the history of the nation’s debt and the forces behind that."
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Oct. 24 to Oct. 28: Recess time for The Senate
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Nov. 7 to Nov. 11: Recess time again for the House
Nov. 23: Voting time. The committee has to vote on its debt-reduction proposal. That will take a majority vote for the plan's approval to pass.
Nov. 24: Thanksgiving
Dec. 2: The committee must give its plan to in all of its legalese to Congress and the White House. By this time, all the plan's details must be made public.
Dec. 23: Both chambers of Congress have to vote on the plan.
Jan. 31: That's all folks! By Jan. 31 the Super Committee is hereby terminated.
