One of two freshmen on the panel, Senator Portman brings vast experience on budget and trade policy to the debt panel. A veteran of two Bush administrations, Portman served as legislative liaison for President George H.W. Bush and US trade representative and director of the Office of Management and Budget for President George W. Bush.
During his 12-year career in the House, Portman served on the Ways and Means Committee, where he helped lead initiatives to curb unfunded mandates and overhaul the Internal Revenue Service. In the Senate, he backed this month's compromise deal to raise the national debt limit. If future Congresses insist on the same principle – linking a higher debt limit to Congress’s passing comparable spending cuts – it will result in a balanced budget in 10 years, he says.
Portman’s comments in favor of eliminating certain tax breaks deemed to be dysfunctional prompt speculation that he could be a swing vote, avoiding gridlock on the panel. GOP leaders have said that net tax hikes are off the table.
