Another sign that the Super Committee’s about to implode: Panel Democrats just scolded Republican co-chair Jeb Hensarling for taking his bright lines public on Tuesday, contrary to the spirit of the negotiations, which have been mostly leak-free.
“We’ve been really working hard not to negotiate in public and not to negotiate through you folks but to talk to each other in good faith and try to work through a compromise,” said Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) after a closed door meeting.. “I think when people go public and say what they’re willing and not willing to do, it isn’t as helpful as sitting at a table and trying to work through these things. “
The top Dem on the panel, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) echoed her colleague.
“I heard some of the comments and I hope that they have not walked away. We are working very hard to find a place that we can move forward on and we’re gonna continue to do that,” she said. “The hours are very short to have a deal.”
Brian Beutler
Brian Beutler is TPM's senior congressional reporter. Since 2009, he's led coverage of health care reform, Wall Street reform, taxes, the GOP budget, the government shutdown fight, and the debt limit fight. He can be reached at brian@talkingpointsmemo.com.
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