WASHINGTON (AP) — The bipartisan supercommittee will hold its first meeting next week as it begins a three-month quest to come up with at least $1.2 trillion in deficit cuts.
The co-chairs of the 12-member panel, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, said they will hold an organizational meeting on Thursday, Sept. 8. Members will make opening remarks and vote on committee rules.
The supercommittee will meet again on Tuesday, Sept. 13, to hear testimony on the history and drivers of the nation’s debt.
The supercommittee was established under the debt-ceiling legislation passed at the end of the summer. It is charged with coming up with $1.2 trillion in deficit cuts by Nov. 23. Failure to do so would trigger automatic spending cuts in defense and domestic programs.
