Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said prior bipartisan commissions have laid the groundwork for the "supercommittee" to craft a deficit-reduction plan.
"Remember, we're not starting from scratch here — Chris [Van Hollen (D-Md.)] and I both served on the Biden group. … We've got the benefit of Simpson-Bowles; we've got the benefit of Domenici-Rivlin. We've got all of those things side by side," said Clyburn in a joint interview with Van Hollen on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" Monday.
Clyburn and Van Hollen are two of the six Democratic members serving on the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, known popularly as the “supercommittee."
Both lawmakers cited suggestions from past bipartisan commissions as a starting place for the current committee.
"There's no magic to the group of 12, but when members of Congress went back home during the most recent break, they heard an earful from their constituents about how it was important for people to get together, come together and get something done," said Van Hollen in the interview.
Van Hollen said he hopes the committee can unite in response to the public's desire for Congress to reach a bipartisan deal.
Clyburn and Van Hollen told MSNBC that everything will be on the table in the supercommittee meetings, including tax reform and entitlement programs.
