The Hill News

Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) said this week that he would accept an appointment to the 12-member “supercommittee” tasked with finding at least $1.5 trillion in spending cuts.

“A number of my colleagues have made the comment that it’d be like a root canal and they have no interest,” Portman said in a report published Tuesday by The Columbus Dispatch. “I won’t disagree with them on the first part, but it’s what you’re elected to do and, if asked, I’d answer the call.”

Portman also said that as a member, he would put defense cuts and tax reform on the table! along with entitlement reform. The latter has been popular with most Republicans, but they oppose defense cuts. And some conservative Republicans see ending tax credits and closing loopholes as a way to quietly increase taxes, which the party as a whole is sternly against.

Tax reform “will generate more revenue,” Portman said.

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