But in an hour-long discussion Wednesday with Kalamazoo Gazette reporters and editors, Upton declined to offer specifics of how the committee might close the current $1.3 trillion gap between federal revenues and expenditures.

Asked if revising the tax code to produce a net gain in federal revenues would violate the anti-tax pledge signed by Upton and the five other Republicans on the committee, Upton responded: "I don't know."

Still, talking about ways the tax code might be changed, Upton used the example of how General Electric was able to avoid paying federal taxes in 2010.

"At the end of the day, I do expect to see tax reform that is bipartisan," he said.

In fact, Upton on Wednesday repeatedly stressed the need for bipartisanship, in sharp contrast to the anti-tax Republican rhetoric that fueled the showdown this summer that led to the committee's creation.

So, good old Upton, Camp and Hensarling sitting on the "Super Committee" are already laying the groundwork for a Norquist ploy as way to evade finger pointing on new taxes that Democrats love.