House Dems shoot down new debt panel

House Democrats were quick to shoot down the idea of establishing a new supercommittee to address the debt ceiling Tuesday. [WATCH VIDEO]

On hearing the news that House Republicans were considering a bill setting up a new bipartisan, bicameral panel, Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) responded, “Not again. Not again. Oh my gosh.”

Becerra, head of the House Democratic Caucus, was a member of the original supercommittee. That bipartisan panel of House and Senate lawmakers was created during the debt limit fight of 2011 and charged with finding $1.2 trillion in deficit savings. That panel failed in its mission, leading to the enactment of broad sequester cuts.

“There was nothing super about it,” he added. 

{mosads}With House Republicans discussing crafting a new panel, Democrats were eager to throw cold water on the idea, arguing Congress could settle its differences without another special panel.

“Appoint conferees to the budget,” said Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-N.Y.). “We don’t need to do that. We have regular order.”

Democrats addressed the idea of a new supercommittee after emerging from their own private meeting.

Following that meeting, they reiterated that enough Democrats support a “clean” funding bill to end the government shutdown and again demanded Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) bring the bill to the floor for a vote.

“The Speaker knows the votes exist to stop this gimmickry,” said Becerra.

Democrats also blasted Republicans for holding firm on making debt limit demands, saying conservatives were putting the global economy at risk for political purposes.

“Now they’re playing with a blowtorch. They know exactly what they’re doing,” said Crowley. “It’s absolutely absurd what they believe is in the best interest of our country.”

At the same time, House Democrats were as stumped as everyone else on how to break through the logjam that has driven the government shutdown for a week.

“If we had an answer, we would propose it,” said Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.).