Hotline Whip Count: Deficit Commission Looks Dead
A presidential deficit commission is struggling to win the votes necessary to pass a sweeping austerity plan as members get set to vote on a final draft today. Despite lobbying efforts by commission chairmen Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson, five of the 18 members have said they will vote against the plan, effectively scuttling its chances.
Bowles and Simpson have secured ten votes, while five commissioners have said they will vote against the proposal. Commission members include: Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Kent Conrad (D-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Judd Gregg (R-NH), Reps. Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Dave Camp (R-MI), Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), Paul Ryan (R-WI), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and John Spratt (D-SC), Honeywell International CEO David Cote, former Young & Rubicam Brands CEO Ann Fudge, Brookings Institute senior fellow Alice Rivlin and former SEIU president Andy Stern.
The vote will be held today. For a detailed look at the tough road for deficit cutters, check out Michael Hirsh's take here.
VOTES IN FAVOR
Bowles
Simpson
Coburn
Conrad
Cote
Crapo
Durbin
Fudge
Gregg
Rivlin
Spratt
VOTES AGAINST
Baucus
Camp
Ryan
Schakowsky
Stern
UNDECLARED/UNDECIDED
Becerra
Hensarling (May vote no)
Update: Spratt says he will vote for the package
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