GOP Senate Hopefuls Adam Hasner and Craig Miller Bash 'Supercommittee'

Two of the Republicans looking to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012 weighed in on the newly named members of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction.

The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction was set up as part of the deal to break up the stalemate in Washington over raising the federal debt ceiling. The new committee consists of six members of each party, divided equally between senators and congressmen.

"Only in Washington would anyone be surprised that Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are loading up the 'supercommittee' with liberals and tax-raisers, said former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner. Did anyone really think they were going to select representatives serious about spending and debt? This is the exact kind of establishment mentality that created this mess in the first place. That's why it was nae to think this committee would accomplish anything.

"Washington doesn't need any more phony compromises, added Hasner. It needs more limited-government reinforcements who will follow through on meaningful reforms and not punt their work to task forces and committees."

Craig Miller, the former CEO of Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, slammed the committee and focused on the appointment of U.S. Sen. Patty Murray of Washington who is the chairwoman of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee (DSCC).

This kind of politics-as-usual appointment is just the sort of thing that the people on Main Street reject, said Miller. The senator who runs political fundraising for the Democrats should not be the same senator who co-chairs a committee charged with finding $1.5 trillion in debt reduction. Harry Reids selection of Patty Murray sends the message that pet projects and funding will be saved for the highest bidders. I call on Bill Nelson to stand up to his boss, Harry Reid, and demand that he replace DSCC Chairwoman Murray with someone less concerned with winning the next election and more concerned with the crippling debt that future generations of America face.