‘Gang of Six’ Meets With ‘Super Committee,’ FY 2012 Appropriations Update - October 25, 2011

On Oct. 19, the “gang of six” – the bipartisan group of six senators led by Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) – met with the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (or “super committee”) to discuss their $4 trillion deficit reduction plan. The “gang of six” plan proposed a two-step process that would include a down payment in spending cuts and instructions for committees of jurisdiction to find additional savings. The “gang of six” is the first – and only group so far – to meet with the “super committee.”

While the Senate is in recess this week, members of the “super committee” continue to meet. The “super committee” has held all meetings behind closed doors, and little information about their progress is known. With the end of October approaching, the committee has mere weeks before proposals to the Congressional Budget Office are due to allow time for the proposals to be scored.

Though the FY 2012 appropriations are under way in both chambers of Congress, little progress has been made in either chamber, especially in regard to funding for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Senate will take up its work on a “minibus” spending bill when lawmakers return from their recess, although that bill does not include any HHS spending. It is likely that a large continuing resolution will be passed in November, after the “super committee” has presented its recommendations, to fund the government until early next year.

NAPH continues to monitor the “super committee” and appropriations process. Make sure to visit the NAPH website and www.protectmedicaid.org for updates.