Cantor on Deficit Task Force: 'What's the Point?'

President Barack Obama’s task force on the federal deficit is off to a shaky start with participants squabbling over membership and whether there’s any point to meeting at all. The congressional task force headed by Vice President Joe Biden is supposed to come up with a bipartisan deal on the cutting the deficit, The Washington Post reported.

Rep. Eric Cantor (AP photo)

But House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., told the Post he was “at a loss to understand what the purpose is.” Obama had called for a membership of 16, four from each party in the House and Senate. Congressional leaders disagreed and Democrats are sending four members and Republicans two.

Members are also concerned that the task force is just for show and a deal will be worked out in private as happened last December on the Bush tax cuts. Administration officials deny this. Nonetheless, Congress is seeking its own path. Six senators, three from each party, are at work on their own to reach a deficit reduction deal, the Post reported.

The so-called “Gang of Six” could have a proposal on the table next month. The plan could include entitlement cuts and tax increases, third rail items for Democrats and Republicans respectively, according to the Post.