The president’s debt commission shot down a plan Friday aimed at reducing the nation’s federal budget deficit by a vote of 11-7.
The plan, drawn up by the commission’s co-chairmen, former Republican senator Alan Simpson and former Clinton chief of staff Erksine Bowles, included many controversial recommendations to Social Security, healthcare and tax reform.
House Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) planned to bring these recommendations to the floor for a vote if the plan had received 14 votes of approval from the 18-member commission.