The Hill News

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) met Wednesday with the six GOP members of the new supercommittee, a day ahead of the deficit panel’s first official meeting.

The meeting was the first between Boehner and McConnell and the Republicans they appointed to the committee last month. The leaders met with the panelists for about 30 minutes, Boehner spokesman Kevin Smith said.

The Republican members held their second strategy session in a week on Wednesday. On Thursday, the supercommittee will hold a public meeting to deliver opening statements and settle on rules for the panel, which is charged with identifying $1.5 trillion in deficit savings by Thanksgiving.

The six Democratic members of the committee met separately on Wednesday.