Supercommittee Co-Chairman Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) said the group should primarily focus on "reforming social safety net programs."
"In order to succeed I know this committee must be primarily about the business of saving and reforming social safety net programs that are not only failing many beneficiaries, but going broke at the same time," said Hensarling at the committee's first meeting Thursday.
Hensarling said he hopes the committee will be able to also reform taxes, prioritize spending and make all government programs more efficient.
He urged committee members to agree to stop spending borrowed money.
"I do not believe this committee alone will solve our nation's debt crisis, but a bipartisan negotiated reduction in the growth of our nation's debt would be a wonderful, needed, hopeful step in the right direction," said Hensarling.
For more on the supercommittee's first meeting, click here.
