By Larry Bivins

As chairman of the House of Representatives Budget Committee, Rep. Paul Ryan was widely considered a likely candidate for one of the Republican slots on the "super committee" established under the recent hard-fought debt ceiling agreement.

But the Janesville congressman said Wednesday it was because of his position on the budget committee that he asked not to be considered for the powerful bipartisan panel that is charged with developing a plan by Nov. 23 to slash $1.2 trillion from the federal budget.

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, accommodated Ryan's wishes. Ryan's name was not among the three lawmakers Boehner announced Wednesday would represent House Republicans on the 12-member panel. Boehner chose Reps. Jeb Hensarling of Texas and Dave Camp and Fred Upton of Michigan.

Ryan and Wisconsin's two freshmen members of Congress, Sean Duffy, R-Ashland, and Reid Ribble, R-Lawrence, applauded the Republican leader's decision.

Ryan, author of a controversial deficit-reduction plan called The Path to Prosperity, said he will focus his energy as budget committee chairman on crafting legislation "to put in place common-sense controls that stop the spending spree in Washington."

"I asked the speaker not to consider me for the joint committee, because only the budget committee can write legislation to reform the budget process," Ryan said in a statement

Both Duffy and Ribble have maintained their primary purpose for running for Congress was to tackle the spending they deem is out of control. They are supporters of the House bill calling for deep spending cuts, a cap on future spending, and a requirement that Congress pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. The Democrat-controlled Senate killed the measure.

"I'm very pleased with Speaker Boehner's selections and remain confident that these three respected House leaders will work hard to find a bipartisan solution to the spending driven debt crisis we face as a nation," Duffy said.

Ribble, who serves on the budget committee with Ryan, said the current stock market turmoil is a stark reminder of the precarious condition of the nation's economy and the need for lawmakers to put aside political differences to produce a plan to wipe out the nation's $14.3 trillion debt.

"Our financial markets this past week reflected the consequences of debt-fueled spending and demagoguery, and it's time to put an end to the politics of the past and do what's best for the country," Ribble said. "I am hopeful and confident that the members appointed to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction will take this responsibility seriously."

The committee was among the key provisions of emergency legislation Congress approved and the president signed last week to raise the debt limit and avert a default on the nation's financial obligations. The default deadline was Aug. 2.

The legislation allows for a two-step increase of at least $2.1 trillion in the debt ceiling. The increase must be offset by spending reductions, and the joint committee is tasked with recommending $1.2 trillion in cuts. If it fails or the House or Senate rejects its plan, spending cuts would automatically go into effect in 2013.

On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., named Democrats Max Baucus of Montana, John Kerry of Massachusetts and Patty Murray of Washington to the panel. Murray will serve as co-chair. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky selected Jon Kyl of Arizona, Rob Portman of Ohio and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania as the Senate GOP representatives.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has yet to announce her appointments. She faces a deadline of Aug. 16.

Meanwhile, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, joined five other Senate Republicans — Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, John Boozman of Arkansas, Dean Heller of Nevada, Mike Lee of Utah and David Vitter of Louisiana — in sending a letter to Senate leaders urging that the joint committee meetings be open.

"The American people have a right to know what their government is going to do with their tax dollars," said the letter written by Heller. "Open door proceedings will allow the public to be their own advocates, rather than relying on games of inside baseball that too often dominate today's Washington.

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