Sherrod Brown Hugs Rob Portman — Claims He’s Open To Closing Deficit With Taxes

[ProSense]

Sherrod Brown Hugs Rob Portman — Claims He’s Open To Closing Deficit With Taxes

Brian Beutler

Surely Super Committeeman Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) will appreciate his fellow Ohioan Sherrod Brown (D-OH) vouching for his willingness to compromise.

"Rob has shown a willingness to find common ground by looking at both tax reform and spending cuts in order to reduce the deficit," Brown said in a statement after GOP leaders announced their six appointees.

Portman may secretly think higher taxes are a price worth paying to reduce the deficit, but he's susceptible to the same pressures as all Republicans. After praising for the Gang of Six proposal, his office quickly clarified that Portman doesn't support tax reform as a means of increasing revenue. And all six of the Republicans on the committee have been given the seal of approval by anti-tax zealot Grover Norquist.

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Maybe Brown is trying to box him in.

[Lindsay]

1. Maybe Portman is lying.

That'd be my guess, anyway.