100 House members push for $4 trillion deficit deal

November 3, 2011

Politico

JAKE SHERMAN

Forty Republicans and 60 Democrats unveiled a letter Wednesday urging the supercommittee to cut $4 trillion from the nation’s deficit.

The letter — which started circulating last week — was spear-headed by Reps. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) and Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), who are asking the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to put “everything on the table,” Simpson said.

“We don’t believe [$1.2 trillion is] enough,” Simpson told reporters Wednesday.

Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Democratic Caucus Chair John Larson of Connecticut - members of leadership - signed the letter. As did Rep. John Carter (R-Texas), a member of GOP leadership, also signed.

Rep. Ron Paul, the Texas Republican running for president, also signed the letter.

Hoyer, Shuler, Simpson, Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-Ohio) and Rep. Tom Rooney (R-Fla.) worked the House floor in search of signatures last week. LaTourette said Shuler, the Democrat, garnered more GOP signatures than Republicans did.

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