The Hill News

Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.) said Congress was "abdicating its responsibility" with the federal debt by commissioning the deficit-reduction supercommittee.

"I think Congress is abdicating its responsibilities," Berkley said, the Las Vegas Sun reported.

Instead, Berkley reportedly said that the deficit could be reduced through $70 billion in defense cuts then-Defense Secretary Robert Gates identified as well as by ending tax loopholes and tax subsidies.

As part of the agreement to raise the debt ceiling, the bipartisan 12-person panel of legislators is charged with finding at least $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction by Thanksgiving. If the committee is unable to compromise on a proposal, a trigg! er mechanism activates automatic cuts: 50 percent in domestic spending and 50 percent in defense. If the committee is able to reach a compromise, the proposal goes to Congress for an up-or-down vote. 

The committee convenes officially convenes when Congress returns from recess in September.

Berkley voted for the debt-ceiling increase deal that creates the supercommittee.