House Dems Urge Super Committee To See Past Gridlock, Pass Jobs Bill

By Andrea Salazar

House Democratic Caucus Chair John Larson (D-Conn.) called on the Joint Select Committee to break through the partisan gridlock that has become the new era of politics on Capitol Hill.

Following this summer’s debt ceiling debacle, the “super committee” was tasked by President Obama with cutting $1.5 trillion from the nation’s deficit over the next decade. The committee must reach consensus on where to cut spending by Thanksgiving before automatic cuts take effect. 

“This Congress by acting together, this super committee by coming together, could demonstrate, not only to the people of this country but everybody around the world, what we need to do,” Larson said. “I guarantee you that money and investment would then flow to this country because we would establish ourselves as a place where you can park your money, where you can do business and where we can create the kind of stability that we need.”

Fellow Democratic Reps. Kathy Hochul (N.Y.) and Charlie Gonzalez (Texas) echoed Larson’s concern for the “super committee,” and went even further, pushing Congress to move on the president’s jobs plan in its piecemeal form.

Hochul offered her endorsement for the upcoming infrastructure provision of Obama’s jobs bill, explaining that, in her home state of New York, the bill would have an immediate impact on those struggling. 

“I’m putting this Congress on notice that if something happens to one of my bridges and we had the ability through this jobs act to provide infrastructure money to fix my bridges…well I’m sorry folks, you were forewarned,” Hochul said.

Clyburn Up For New "Assistant Leader" Position

By AJ Swartwood

A Democratic Caucus source indicated Tuesday that the position of Assistant to the Leader will now be known as simply Assistant Leader, pending a vote in the Democratic Caucus elections Wednesday.

That post, which is expected to be filled by current House Majority Whip Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), would be the third ranking position in the party and would act as a compromise to a Democratic party that is grappling with a shift in power to the House Republicans. Although details on the position’s responsibilities are limited, it was created by party leadership to avoid a potentially divisive struggle for power in the soon-to-be-minority Democratic party between Clyburn and current House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), who is also seeking to be second in House Party leadership as Minority Whip. 

Current Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will likely retain the Democratic Party Leadership role as the Minority Leader. But, despite Pelosi’s declared intention to seek the Minority Leadership, nothing is confirmed until the caucus officially nominates and votes on her bid to become the House Minority Leader. Pelosi has expressed her plans to give Clyburn the number three position in the House leadership.

“Should I receive the privilege of serving as House Democratic Leader, I will be very honored to nominate our outstanding colleague, Congressman Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, to serve in the number three House Democratic position,” said Pelosi in a letter sent to House Democrats.