And The 6 Republican-Appointed Members Of The Obama Deficit Commission Are...

• Rep. Paul Ryan (WI)
• Rep. Dave Camp (MI)
• Rep. Jeb Hensarling (TX)
• Sen. Judd Gregg (NH)
• Sen. Michael Crapo (ID)
• Sen. Tom Coburn

With the possible exception of Coburn, this list was predictable.  It includes the senior GOP members of the House and Senate Budget Committees and the House Ways and Means Committee.  Crapo is six down from the top of the Senate Finance Committee and Senate Republican leader Mith McConnell (KY) had to skip over two comparative moderates -- ranking member Chuck Grassley (IA) and Olympia Snowe (ME) -- to get to him, but he's also on budget.   Coburn is not a member of budget, finance, or appropriations, but he is a gadfly (read: pain in the ass) when it comes to spending and can be expected to talk about earmarks and pork at every possible opportunity.

House Democrats are the only ones who have yet to name their appointees and there are indications that will happen as soon as the health care vote is taken later this week.  The word is that many members and groups within the House are angling for one of the three slots and the leadership is taking its time choosing among them.

Anyone who reads CG&G knows (here, here, and here, for example) that I haven't had much hope for this or any other budget commission.  None of the Democratic or Republican House and Senate appointees change my mind about its prospects.