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View Full Version : Demanding Transparency from the Supercommitee



Conley
09-17-2011, 10:01 AM
The newly formed congressional supercommittee's 12 members are charged with finding more than $1 trillion in budget savings this fall. Their clout could attract more campaign contributions, and lawmakers are demanding greater accountability for the money the panel's members take in.

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) has a mixed voting record when it comes to campaign finance reform, but he is adamant about making the six Republicans and six Democrats on the deficit-reduction supercommittee more accountable.

"They have before them only everything in the federal budget and everything in the U.S. tax code," he says. "It's enormous power, it's an enormous role, and obviously everybody in Washington, D.C., and beyond, every special interest, is going to be lobbying them."

Those lobbyists will also possibly make generous contributions at the many fundraisers that members of the supercommittee have scheduled this fall. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), a member of the supercommittee, says he "canceled a bunch of fundraisers" because the committee responsibilities have taken up so much time. As far as ethical problems regarding the fundraising, he says he's leaving that up to others.

http://www.npr.org/2011/09/16/140521500/lawmakers-seek-transparency-from-supercommittee

Go Vitter - get this passed!

I am not comfortable with these 12 having such power, but what can we do? They make the rules. :-\

MMC
09-17-2011, 10:15 AM
For once this guy Vitter actually is speaking out about doing the right thing here. All should be on board with this. Be a good question to ask each and every politican. If they balk.....then it's all about the grab-bag. :thumbsup:

Conley
09-17-2011, 10:18 AM
Yes indeed...if the bill makes it to a vote we should post up the roll and see who should be held accountable!