The Hill News

The Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction, or the “supercommittee,” meets today for the first time. Americans are rightly concerned that business-as-usual will dominate, including the outsized and damaging influence of special interests and wealthy campaign contributors.  

Committee members Reps. Dave Camp (R-Mich.) and Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) both held fundraisers yesterday. At least nine of the 12 members have fundraisers scheduled over the coming months. Lobbyists have called the supercommittee a “lobbying bonanza.” One even said his plan to prepare for the committee was to “write 12 really large checks.”

That’s why we called on supercommittee members to give up all fundraising and disclose all meetings with outside parties. While no member of the supercommittee has yet to agree to our demands, recent news reports indicate that members are taking them seriously and taking steps to address the appearance of undue influence.

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