Snowe, Collins Split Over Debt Commission

Senator Snowe and Senator Collins split their votes over the proposed bipartisan debt commission, sponsored by Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH). Senator Collins, a co-sponsor, supported the bill and spoke in favor of it on the floor. Senator Snowe voted against the proposal, which failed 53-46, having not garnered 60 votes to overcome a filibuster.

The Conrad-Gregg proposal was introduced yesterday as an amendment to the bill raising the U.S. debt ceiling. While complex in its implementation, is basically a simple concept, creating a commission whose focus would be deficit reduction. The process would have been similar to that used by the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) commission.

Before the BRAC process was implemented, it was difficult to close military facilities. Members of Congress could object to individual closures, and regularly did so, since bases can bring millions of dollars in to a local economy. The BRAC process created an independent nine-member panel which reviewed the recommendations of the Department of Defense and submitted an entire list to Congress, which could then reject or approve it in its entirety. This made it more difficult for individual members of Congress to stall the closure or realignment of a particular base in their district or state.

The Conrad-Gregg Amendment would have taken a similar approach to the federal deficit. The commission would make a recommendation to Congress on reducing the deficit, which might include a mixture of tax increases and spending reductions. Supporters argued that this would shorten and simplify the lengthy and convoluted federal budget process, making politically difficult choices more palatable.

The vote was not exactly strictly partisan: 22 Democrats joined 24 Republicans in voting against the measure, while 16 Republicans joined 36 Democrats in supporting it. The idea was endorsed by President Obama, but he only announced his support a few days before the vote.

Snowe and Collins were not the only ideologically-similar senators from the same state who split on the issue. Roland Burris, appointed to Obama’s Senate seat, opposed it; Dick Durbin, the no. 2 Democrat in the Senate, supported it. In Massachusetts, interim Senator Paul Kirk voted against while John Kerry supported it, as does Senator-elect Scott Brown. Voting cut an ideological swath across the U.S. Senate. For example, independent liberal Bernie Sanders of Vermont and conservative Republican Sam Brownback of Kansas joined in opposition.

Of course, the diverse group on either side of this issue also had diverse reasons for their votes, especially those in opposition. Some were powerful committee chairs who didn’t want to see their authority reduced. Others felt that Congress shouldn’t opt out of decisions simply because they were politically difficult, and that expanding the BRAC model to the deficit would be a bad precedent. Many didn’t want to let their opponents avoid votes on raising taxes or cutting programs.

Senator Collins, in her statement on the Senate floor, argued that “If we fail to stop this approaching tsunami of red ink, then the futures of our children and grandchildren will be irrevocably damaged by our negligence. The American Dream as we know it, where each succeeding generation can achieve a higher standard of success and quality of life, will be over.” Senator Snowe has not issued a press release regarding her vote against the proposal.

Senator Snowe, explaining her vote, said that “Although I consider it an absolute imperative to bring our budget under control and reduce the deficit, I could not support the Task Force that was voted on today. Indeed, such a Commission would result in an up-or-down, take it or leave it approach – the last thing we need more of in Washington — with absolutely no amendments allowed, that I believe shortchanges what should be a process where the executive and legislative branches sit down together to develop a plan for deficit reduction that congressional committees could thoroughly consider and report. In this way, the elected representatives who are accountable to the people could participate in the process. We could then tie future debt limit increases to the progress the Administration and Congress make on achieving the mutually agreed upon targets. While I cannot support a bipartisan commission that would preclude amendments – just look at what happened to Maine as a result of the base closing commission – I believe that serious, productive discussions between Congress and the Administration, that include Democrats and Republicans, could yield positive results.”

While the Conrad-Gregg Amendment was defeated yesterday, the idea is not dead. The vote showed bipartisan support and opposition to the measure. If supporters come up with a revised version, or if President Obama pushes hard for the idea in the State of the Union address tonight, getting the seven additional votes for passage may yet be possible.