McConnell 'willing to consider' appointing GOP members to deficit commission

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) was positive but non-committal on Tuesday when asked whether he would appoint GOP members to a special deficit-reduction commission created by the executive branch.

McConnell, who has supported the idea of a legislative commission in the past yet voted against it last week, said he'd "be willing to consider" appointing Republicans to the panel that Obama has pledged to create through executive order after last week's Senate vote for a legislative-based commission failed.

McConnell and other Republicans voted against the legislative panel out of fear that it wasn't focused enough on spending reductions and could be used to raise revenue through tax increases.

"I think the idea of the commission is a good idea. We've had a lot of discussion about that. As you know, we had a difference of opinion in our conference as to what type of commission," McConnell said at a mid-afternoon press conference. "But...it's perfectly clear what the big problem is. It's not a lack of revenue, it's too much spending.

"I think targeting spending is a good idea, so I'm not exactly sure what the -- what the game plan of this executive branch commission would be," he added. "I think it's probably not going to have a whole lot of credibility, but I'm willing to consider it and we'll be discussing it in our conference, the appropriateness of participating in something that is not likely to be as good a mechanism as a variety of the commissions... -- as the commissions that were offered here on the floor last week."

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