FILE - In this Sept. 22, 2011, file photo supercommittee co-chair Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, right, begins a hearing of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction 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. At left is supercommittee member Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)