Kerry chosen for debt deal’s key panel

“As the events of the past week have made clear, the world is watching the work of this committee. I am confident that Senators Murray, Baucus, and Kerry will bring the thoughtfulness, bipartisanship, and commitment to a balanced approach that will produce the best outcome for the American people,’’ Reid said.

The committee will include six Democrats and six Republicans; each of the four top leaders in Congress is responsible for filling three slots.

The committee has been the subject of intense speculation - and some trepidation - since last week when Congress approved a $2.5 trillion deficit reduction package that created the panel. Taxes are almost sure to be a major source of tension for committee members. Democrats have said they hope the committee will raise new revenues, while Republicans have refused to consider any increase in taxes.

The three senators released a joint statement yesterday evening saying the task ahead would be difficult, admitting “there is peril in serving on this committee.’’ But Americans wanted the committee to work “without the red hot partisanship and brinksmanship of the last months,’’ and they pledged to work with Republicans in a serious and bipartisan spirit.

The statement continued: “This is not going to be easy. Our challenge is to find common ground without damaging anyone’s principles. We believe we can get there. This committee was designed to require bipartisanship, and we are going to work hard with our Republican colleagues to attain it.’’

The three appointments are the only ones made public so far. Spokesmen for the three other congressional leaders - House Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio, House minority leader Nancy Pelosi of California, and Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky - said yesterday they had no announcements. The deadline for their appointments is Aug. 16.