Dold among Republicans possibly open to tax hikes

WASHINGTON — Breaking with party orthodoxy, 40 House Republicans urged Congress' supercommittee on Wednesday to consider all options for raising revenue as they hunt for ways to trim the gargantuan $14.8 trillion national debt.

The only Illinois Republican to sign the letter was Rep. Robert Dold of Kenilworth.

Though in a letter to the special debt-reduction panel the GOP lawmakers studiously avoided specific proposals that the signees admitted could shatter the group's unanimity, it seemed to at least crack the door open to the potential consideration of tax increases.

That seemed to separate the 40 Republicans from many of their GOP colleagues, who have said they would consider only new revenue generated by a stronger economy.

The GOP lawmakers joined with 60 House Democrats in the letter, which also called on the supercommittee to keep the door open for savings culled from benefit programs like Medicare, a path opposed by many Democrats. In addition, the letter said the special committee should aim for $4 trillion in 10-year savings — more than triple the panel's mandated minimum target of $1.2 trillion.

Three Illinois Democrats signed: Reps. Danny Davis, Daniel Lipinski and Mike Quigley.

At a news conference and interviews Wednesday, Republican participants shied from expressing an unconditional willingness to accept tax increases as part of a final deal.

Even so, the letter's bipartisan, conciliatory tone contrasted with the political atmosphere in Washington that has buffeted the supercommittee, which has made little evident headway just three weeks from its deadline. “To succeed, all options for mandatory and discretionary spending and revenues must be on the table,” the letter said. “In addition, we know from other bipartisan frameworks that a target of some $4 trillion in deficit reduction is necessary to stabilize our debt as a share of the economy and assure America's fiscal well-being.”

The signers comprised about 1 in 6 House Republicans and nearly a third of its Democrats — hardly the kind of numbers that force difficult decisions in Washington. Even so, participants said they believed many other lawmakers also supported a large package with savings from both spending cuts and new revenues, and expressed hope a letter signed by 100 of the House's 435 members would have clout.

“When this big deal comes out, any member can find 10, 20, 30 reasons to say ‘No,”' said Rep. Steven LaTourette, an Ohio Republican, one of the signers. “It's now a time for the ostriches to pull their heads out of the sand, the holier than thou crowd to get off their horses, the sacred cows need to be made into hamburger.”

So far, the 12-member supercommittee — six Republicans and six Democrats — has faced a dilemma in which Democrats demand higher taxes as their price for accepting significant savings from benefit programs such as Medicare, while Republicans oppose revenue increases and insist on trimming benefit programs.

Bipartisan budget experts have urged the committee to produce at least $4 trillion in savings. They say doing less would not significantly alter the potential long-term financial nightmare the government faces, in which red ink grows faster than the U.S. economy.

“Our country needs our honest, bipartisan judgment and our political courage. Your committee has been given a unique opportunity and authority to act. We are prepared to support you in this effort,” the letter states.

The list of signers includes moderates from both parties. But it also in includes conservatives such as presidential candidate Ron Paul, a Texas Republican; No. 2 House Democratic leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland; and liberals such as Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Missouri Democrat who chairs the Congressional Black Caucus.

It was organized by Reps. Heath Shuler, a North Carolina Democrat, and Mike Simpson, an Idaho Republican.

“We all know you can't get to that kind of number by just looking at one side of the equation or the other,” Simpson said of a significant debt-cutting deal.

“I'll give up my election, I'll give up my seat” in exchange for an agreement that helps the country's fiscal future, Shuler said.