Markey to Hastings: Joint Committee Recommendations Should be Considered Jointly, Openly

Markey Asks for Transparent Process Following Silence from Republicans

WASHINGTON (September 19, 2011) -- Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee today insisted to Republicans on the committee that any recommendations made to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction be made in a transparent process involving the entire committee. The request follows a period of silence from Republican staff to Chairman Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) on whether ideas will be considered from Democratic members, and comes before a hearing this week where Republicans are expected to suggest opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling as a means to reduce the deficit, without entertaining Democratic ideas.

"The deficit is a shared problem, the committee charged with considering and submitting a plan is a joint committee, and yet Natural Resources Committee Republicans seem to be going it alone when it comes to our responsibility to help solve this crisis," said Rep. Markey. "This is not a time to shun ideas to reduce the deficit, it's a time to discuss them out in the light of day. Chairman Hastings and other committee Republicans should welcome a robust forum for debate, and I expect such a hearing to occur."

Rep. Markey sent a letter to Chairman Hastings today detailing his request. The letter can be found HERE.

In the letter, Rep. Markey asks for a business meeting of the committee where any and all ideas from both Republicans and Democrats on the committee can be considered and debated before the October 14th deadline to submit ideas to the joint deficit committee.