No One Wants To Be on Debt 'Super Committee'

Legislators aren't exactly jumping to volunteer for the 12-man "super committee" created by the debt ceiling deal, which promises to be a thankless and heavily lobbied job, the LA Times reports. “I'm not that much of a glutton for punishment,” says Jon Kyl. “This is going to take an odd kind of person.” Ben Nelson tells CBS he's not interested either, and Susan Collins says she’s “not a fan of creating a new committee”—not that the compromise-prone Collins would even be asked.

“It’s going to be junkyard types,” says one budget expert, adding that “They’ll want people who understand they’re not free agents,” ruling out the likes of Tom Coburn or Rand Paul. Lawmakers facing reelection in 2012 are also off the hook. Whoever’s picked will, however, benefit from unprecedented pressure (read: campaign donations) from lobbyists. “The power of the entire Congress is being placed in the hand of just 12 members,” says one media consultant. “You’re going to see checks and requests for meetings flying furiously.” (More Jon Kyl stories.)