Michael Steele: Presidential Debates Must Discuss National Debt

From The Hill:

A bipartisan group of senators and political strategists are pressing for a national presidential debate on the Bowles-Simpson deficit-reduction plan.

The new effort is aimed at highlighting the nation’s grim fiscal outlook and forcing President Obama and Mitt Romney to provide specific solutions to tackle the nation’s record debt. Neither Obama nor his GOP rival has embraced the recommendations of the Bowles-Simpson commission.

In a letter released Wednesday morning, Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) called on the Commission on Presidential Debates to address the national debt this fall.

“Specifically, we request that you ask the presidential candidates which of the recommendations of the [Bowles-Simpson proposal] they would adopt as part of their plan to reduce the deficit. As part of this discussion, we believe that it would be essential to engage the candidates in a detailed discussion of their priorities for tax and entitlement reform,” the letter from the four senators states.

Three presidential debates have been scheduled:  Oct. 3 on domestic policy; Oct. 16 town hall on foreign and domestic policy; and Oct. 22 on foreign policy. The vice presidential debate will occur on Oct. 11.

All four senators who signed the letter have demonstrated an interest in deficit-reduction deals during this Congress. Chambliss was a major player in the so-called Gang of Six, which unsuccessfully sought to craft a deal based on Bowles-Simpson.

A bipartisan group of political heavyweights on Wednesday night echoed the senators’ concerns in a letter sent to the Frank Farenkopf and Mike McCurry, co-chairmen of the Commission on Presidential Debates. The signers included former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, ex-Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D), former White House special counsel Lanny Davis and former Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.). (Davis and Gregg are columnists for The Hill.)

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