Democrats and Republicans in the House of Representatives, including Rep. Bill Owens, have sent a letter to the Washington “super-committee” charged with finding major reductions in the country’s deficit as an encouragement to the members, who reportedly are deadlocked over familiar issues.

Congressman Owens joined 99 of his House colleagues Wednesday in calling on the special committee working on deficit reduction to work together and present a plan that will reduce the nation’s debt and deficit in a meaningful way.

But reports out of the Capitol indicate that the sticking points in negotiations are raising taxes and cutting military spending and programs like Social Security and Medicaid.

The bipartisan coalition of 100 Democrats and Republicans are demanding a major deficit reduction package from the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction.

"We know that many in Washington and around the country do not believe we in the Congress and those within your committee can successfully meet this challenge. We believe that we can and we must," the letter to the committee said.

“The long-term health of our nation depends a great deal on the success of the super committee,” Owens said. “Members of this panel have an opportunity to set aside politics and do what is best for the country by working together to reduce the deficit. It is my hope that this letter will send a clear message to the panel that not only are the American people expecting something big from them, but so are their representatives in Congress.”