Looks like Reid has made his picks

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Murray is the second-ranking Majority member of the Senate Budget Committee and has done lots of appropriations work.  Conrad must have said no or was passed over by Reid, so Murray was next in line from that committee.  I really don't know how much expertise she has in the area though; she has done a lot more work with Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs, HELP and HUD.  I have no idea what kind of a negotiator she is either. 

I would also never have chosen Kerry for this committee.  WTF?

I too hope Pelosi makes better picks. but I'm not counting on it.

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This is our Super-Committee on the budget for the next ten years???
What plan is going to get seven votes out of this committee?
And even if something did get out, could it pass both chambers?

So, now we're on our way to either the triggers or Congress overriding the triggers, resulting in a big, fat "0."

There were so many deals in the offing already!  There was Simpson-Bowles, Obama-Boehner, the Gang of Six, and after all that, we get this bunch???
Jesus.

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I don't understand the intransigence in regards to raising revenue.  Its such a bizarre position to take.

I agree.  I think perhaps Upton and Portman might agree with that in principle too, but whether or not they'll vote for specifics is another question.

I think the only revenue-enhancing measure that could possibly make it out of this committee is one like Obama and Boehner had been dealing over, lowered rates and linked to chained CPI, or one that came out of the Gang of Six that recommended even lower rates, but both closing loopholes and ending deductions.  But somebody would have to be able to convince House Republicans that such a deal would not be a net tax increase on the upper brackets, and convince Democrats in the Senate that such an approach could really raise more revenue.  Selling both those lines at the same time to those groups of people is...well...not an easy sales pitch to make.  If they can't sell it, we are back to the triggers, and I'd bet some of the very little money I have that it would be easier to round up 2/3 of the House and Senate to override the triggers than it would be  for them to just allow the triggers to go into effect.