August 02, 2011 12:16 AM UTC

Gardner wants to be on committee assigned to cut $1.5 trillion. What would he cut?

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• by: Jason Salzman

( – promoted by Colorado Pols)

Rep. Cory Gardner told Al Malmberg on KCOL Radio (AM 600 in Loveland) today that he wasn’t sure how he’d vote on the bill negotiated by President Obama to extend the debt limit.

But Gardner said he’d like to sit on the committee, established under the legislation, to find $1.5 trillion in government cuts by Nov. 23.

Gardner: “I would actually be on the committee, if they asked, because I would be driving the hard decision. I am not afraid…of difficult choices.”

For some good radio entertainment, Malmberg should have asked Gardner for his list of specific cuts. Or he could get this from Gardner next time he’s on the show.

To be appointed to the committee, Gardner should be lobbying House Speaker John Boehner, as reported by ABC’s Jake Tapper, who does a nice job of explaining what happens if the committee fails to agree on cuts by about Turkey Day:

Congress must vote on recommendations made by the bipartisan Congressional deficit reduction committee by December 23;

If Congress fails to pass the committee proposal, triggers are enacted that spur at least $1.2 trillion in cuts and those will be close to 50/50 split between domestic/defense spending. But the triggers exempt cuts to Social Security, Medicare beneficiaries and low income programs. The cuts will take effect on January 2, 2013.