Who Would YOU Seat at the Table to Make Deficit Reduction Recommendations?

Update 8/11/2011: Republican and Democratic leaders in the House and the Senate announced their appointees to the 12-member congressional "super committee" today and, disappointingly, no women were chosen. House Speaker John Boehner said he's tapped Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), Dave Camp (R-MI), and Fred Upton (R-MI), while Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said he's appointing Sens. Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Pat Toomey (R-PA), and Rob Portman (R-OH). House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi has appointed Reps. James Clyburn (S-SC), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).

August 10, 2011

Congratulations to Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) who has been appointed to the congressional “super” committee of twelve, the Joint Select Committee (JSC) that will recommend $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction measures. We think that this WAND/WiLL woman leader is an excellent choice. She is a smart experienced leader with plenty of experience on the Budget and Appropriations committees in the Senate.

Three of the twelve JSC have now been named. Senator Murray is joined by Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Max Baucus (D-MT) as the three JSC members named by Senate Democrats. There are nine slots left (Senate Republicans and the House Democrats and Republicans) which will be filled this week.

We think that a significant percentage of women should be at this very important table to make crucial budget priority and fiscal decisions. Who do you think should be on this deficit reduction committee? Please post your suggestions for Congresswomen who should be on the Joint Select Committee.

Here is what Sen.  Murray said after the vote on the debt ceiling “deal,”
“I strongly believe that everyone must sacrifice, not just middle-class families who have been sacrificing over and over. That’s why the Joint Select Committee set up by this compromise will be so important in building a balanced approach to addressing our long-term debt and deficit.”
(Read more from Sen. Murray and other statements of WAND/WiLL women leaders in Congress).

A Little Background on Senator Murray
Senator Murray was first elected in 1992, a big year for Democrats when President Clinton was elected  then touted as the “year of the woman”). Her political career started in the 1980’s with organizing a campaign against cuts to a preschool program – she took this on although state politicos told her she couldn’t make a difference. She then served on a school board and went on to be a Washington State Senator.

When she first ran for U.S. Senate she was derided as being just a “mom in tennis shoes” who couldn’t win a Senate seat. Later she claimed that label as a badge of honor.

After winning a tough election in 2010, now she is serving her 4^th term as a U.S. Senator and the top-ranking woman serving in Democratic leadership. Her other notable leadership positions include:

• Chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee
• Serves on the Budget Committee where she is next in line after the Budget Chair (Sen. Kent Conrad –ND).
• Serves on the Appropriations Committee and chairs the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies (1 subcommittee with lots of different tasks)
• Chairs the Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety within the Health, Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee
• Serves on these other vital committees – Rules and Administration, as well as Veteran’s Affairs
• In the Democratic leadership, she is Secretary for the Senate Democratic Leadership and chairs the committee to elect Democratic Senators.

Written by Kathy Crandall Robinson
WAND Public Policy Director
krobinson@wand.org