Hoyer Has Low Expectations On Super Committee Success, Remains Hopeful

By Andrea Salazar

With a Nov. 23 deadline fast approaching, House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer said Wednesday that he has high hopes but low expectations for the president’s Joint Select Committee’s success in recommending at least $1.2 trillion in deficit savings. 

“The human nature tends to procrastinate on tough decisions,” Hoyer told reporters at his weekly briefing. 

Despite the looming deadline, the Democratic Whip said his hope is derived from the fact that he hasn’t heard requests from members of the super committee to extend the deadline.

The Democratic Whip, along with 100 other representatives, sent the super committee a letter asking them to “go for the big deal,” find $4 trillion in savings and put both mandatory expenditures and revenues on the table.

“The stakes…are very much higher and, hopefully, that will compel us, even in light of the short time frame available to us, to come together and reach agreement and act in a manner that will be consistent with the American people’s desire that we face tough challenges and meet them,” Hoyer said.