The Super Committee

Part of the deal to raise the debt ceiling was the formation of a twelve member super committee composed of six members from the House and six from the Senate. The members are evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans. That much all of us who follow politics know.

Are you interested in knowing more about its functioning? This Los Angeles Times article lays out the rules under which the committee must function, including its deadlines and drop-dead date.

One charming feature of the enabling legislation is that, in the event the super committee fails to agree on a set of recommendations, a set of draconian reductions neither side likes would take effect.

The idea, of course, was to provide an incentive for the panel to create recommendations that can win at least seven votes out of the twelve possible - the minimum required to move those recommendations to a vote by the Congress.

Congress may not pass the recommended cuts proposed by the super committee. I foresee the House and Senate failing to agree, as they do now.