Reid appoints two lawmakers to deficit-reduction panel

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced Thursday night the appointment of two lawmakers to start talks on a deficit-reduction plan with a group led by Vice President Joe Biden.

Reid appointed Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.). 

“I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress and the White House to reduce the deficit in a manner that strengthens the middle class and protects seniors," Reid said in a statement. "I also appreciate the good work being done by the three Democratic senators in the Gang of Six, Senators Dick Durbin, Kent Conrad and Mark Warner, and the contributions they continue to make towards our shared goal of responsible deficit reduction.”

As the majority leader, Reid was asked to appoint four negotiators but opted to choose two instead. President Obama called for the creation of the bipartisan panel in a speech on Wednesday with an aim to have a plan ready by July. 

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) have also been asked to appoint four members each.

In addition to Durbin, Senate Budget Chairman Conrad and Warner, the Gang of Six includes Republicans Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, Saxby Chambliss of Georgia and Mike Crapo of Idaho. They have been working to draft legislation based on recommendations the president’s fiscal commission announced in December. 

That group was led by former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.) and former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles and called for cuts of $4 trillion in spending in 10 years.