WASHINGTON — House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., named three Democrats to the Joint Select Deficit Committee on Thursday, finalizing the list of 12 lawmakers who will try to reduce the budget deficit by $1.5 trillion this fall.
Ms. Pelosi tapped three lawmakers known for protecting entitlement programs: Reps. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and James Clyburn, D-S.C.
"We must achieve a 'grand bargain' that reduces the deficit by addressing our entire budget, while strengthening Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security," Ms. Pelosi said in a statement. The group should "make decisions regarding investments, cuts and revenues and their timing to stimulate growth while reducing the deficit."
Mr. Becerra, the vice chairman of the Democratic Caucus and the top Democrat on the Social Security panel of the Ways and Means Committee, was a member of the president's U.S. deficit commission, but voted against the report last December.
Both Mr. Van Hollen, the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee, and Mr. Clyburn, the third-ranking House Democrat, participated in the budget talks led by Vice President Joe Biden earlier this year.
Other members appointed to the 12-lawmaker committee include Sens. Patty Murray, D-Wash., John Kerry, D-Mass., Max Baucus, D-Mont., Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., Rob Portman, R-Ohio, Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Reps. Dave Camp, R-Mich., Fred Upton,, R-Mich. and Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas.
