FILE - In this Sept. 8, 2011, file photo the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, also known as the "supercommittee," holds its first organizational meeting after being created out of the bipartisan compromise on the debt ceiling crisis in August, on Capitol Hill in Washington. After weeks of secret meetings the supercommittee seems no closer to reaching its assigned goal of at least $1.2 trillion in deficit savings over the next 10 years than it was when talks began. Lawmakers, aides and lobbyists closely following the group are increasingly skeptical, even pessimistic. From left are Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich., Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, co-chair, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., co-chair, Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Sen. Patrick Toomey, R-Pa. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)