An article in today’s New York Times seemingly berates the “Super Committee” (Deficit Reduction Committee) for doing its work in secret. It appears those not on the committee want a window on the committee’s work, while the committee is still forumulating its proposal. Those on the outs say that they want visibility into the choices being made; those on the committee say they need their privacy so that they can honestly make budget decisions.
My opinion? There should be more secrecy. Let’s take the whole supercommittee and sequester them like a jury until they have a proposal. They can send out for food. They can request information. But they cannot interact with other congress critters or lobbyists until they are done.
The only reason I can see for those on the outs to want visibility is to try to influence the committee to be intransigent on a party line or for a special interest, not what it is the best interest of the country. This supercommittee should be like the BRAC: they make a recommendation, and it is either voted up or down, with congress knowing that the automatic cuts are a result of a down voice. That’s the only way that this congressional game of chicken can be resolved and the country can move forward.
(oh, you don’t believe me that it is a game of chicken? I suggest you listen to this Planet Money Podcast: When Congress Plays Chicken)