Editorials Discuss Lack of Progress From Debt Panel

"Time is running out for the 'super committee' in Congress to agree on a plan to reduce the federal deficit by at least $1.2 trillion over the next decade," and the "hang-up, as expected, has been getting Republicans and Democrats to compromise on revenue increases and entitlement cuts," according to a Los Angeles Times editorial. The editorial notes that while proposals to overhaul Medicare will be "politically treacherous, ... there's no way around it" as the "program isn't sustainable, and the changes set in motion by the [federal health reform law] aren't enough to save it." Meanwhile, a San Jose Mercury News editorial states, "We had hoped compromise would be spurred by the prospect of devastating cuts that automatically are triggered if the committee fails to reach agreement. Instead, the triggers mostly have inspired creative proposals from both sides of the aisle to avoid defense and domestic cuts without solving anything."

• "The Medicare Trap" (Los Angeles Times, 11/12).
• "Super Committee Is Failing Miserably" (San Jose Mercury News, 11/13).