By Damian Paletta
Maybe there will be a road show after all.
The co-chairmen of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform told reporters two weeks ago they had no plans to go around the country and urge action to tackle the deficit after they issue their final recommendations on Dec. 1, but they now plan to hold a news conference on Dec. 8 in Cheyenne, Wyo., to do just that.
The focus of the two-day 2010 Wyoming Forum, sponsored by the Wyoming Business Alliance and the Wyoming Heritage Foundation, will be ?National Debt: The Consequences of No Action.?
And no need to worry if your personal deficit crisis prevents you from flying to Cheyenne. The group will provide real-time video on the event?s website.
The co-chairmen, former Sen. Alan Simpson from Wyoming, and Democrat Erskine Bowles are holding a press conference today, and then their 18-member panel will gather on Wednesday to vote on a revised proposal to cut the debt that the co-chairmen have spent months tailoring to win broader support. If their proposal wins the backing of 14 of the 18 members, then the House and Senate could vote to adopt some or all of the measures very soon.
But even if they come up short of the 14 votes, as many expect, their recommendations could be adopted by the White House or either political party. In fact, President Barack Obama?s proposal to freeze federal pay for two years is similar to a three-year freeze Messrs. Bowles and Simpson floated earlier this month.
The Wyoming appearance is particularly noteworthy because both co-chairmen recently said they didn?t plan to make any public appearances after the group?s final vote.
?Some people want us to absolutely die and go away,? Mr. Bowles said at a recent breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor. ?The good thing is that?s exactly what we?re going to do Dec. 2. You don?t have to worry about us.
?If they ask Erskine and I to hit the road and promote this thing, I said ?Just do a cardboard cut out and stick it in the bus and carry it around,?? Mr. Simpson said at the same breakfast. ?I?m not going anywhere.?
Perhaps Mr. Simpson doesn?t see the Dec. 8 appearance as a road show. He is, after all, from Wyoming.
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