Our first reaction…why didn’t anyone from the Senate’s Social Security Caucus made the cut? And Senator Kerry and Murray’s support for the Bowles/Simpson plan is certainly disappointing.Here are just some of the reactions this morning:Reid Picks Murray, Kerry, Baucus For Super Committee ? Here?s The Upshot ? TPM Cafe?Entitlement defenders were hoping for a more progressive bunch than this. But the key on the Democratic side of the new committee isn’t so much whether members will agree in principle to some entitlement cuts — most say they will — it’s whether they’ll require as a concession that Republicans agree to increase tax revenues. And through that prism, there’s some reason for optimism.?Harry Reid’s Super Committee Picks: Patty Murray, Max Baucus, John Kerry ? Huffington Post?The choices are not particularly trusted in liberal circles either, in part because of concerns that moneyed interests may come in to play when it comes time to negotiate. In FY 2009, for instance, companies in Murray’s home state of Washington received $5.2 billion in defense contracts. Boeing Inc. is the fourth biggest contributor to Murray over the course of her career, according to data gathered by the Center for Responsive Politics.More broadly, good government advocates were concerned that her post atop the DSCC, which comes with significant fundraising responsibilities, would influence her approach to the committee.?Reid Names Murray, Baucus and Kerry to New Deficit Panel ? CQ Today (by subscription)?While Baucus and Murray seem obvious choices for the joint committee, the selection of Kerry is more surprising. As chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Kerry has not played as prominent role in fiscal policy debates. He does, however, serve on the Finance Committee.In addition to serving on Obama?s fiscal commission, Baucus was a member of the bipartisan, bicameral group led by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. that unsuccessfully sought a compromise debt reduction plan to accompany the debt ceiling increase.The low-key Murray, who as secretary of the Democratic Caucus ranks fourth in the party?s hierarchy in the chamber, has become a prominent voice on fiscal issues during frequent appearances with Reid and other leaders. She is also the No. 2 Democrat on the Budget Committee and chairwoman of the Appropriations subcommittee that deals with transportation, housing and urban development issues.Murray is one of the few senior Senate Democratic women not up for re-election this cycle and is chairwoman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.Picking powerful members from the Finance and Appropriations committees makes sense, because the new panel will have jurisdiction over tax, spending and budget matters. Baucus and Murray will be able to use their new positions to ensure that their committees? interests are represented on the new panel.?Boehner will name the other co-chair. Just as Reid chose a party loyalist, Boehner is likely to choose a stout conservative.Dem official: Murray to be debt panel co-chair ? Associated PressIn a conference call Tuesday with rank and file House Republicans, Boehner said his three selections to the joint committee will be “people of courage who understand the gravity of this situation and are committed to doing what needs to be done,” according an account provided by a House GOP aide. The aide spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp, R-Mich., are among the names most frequently mentioned by congressional aides and lobbyists as Boehner’s likely picks. Ryan and Camp were also deficit commission members but voted against the co-chairmen’s recommendations, citing tax increases and inadequate cost curbs of federal health care programs.
