Bob Bixby, executive director of the Concord Coalition, said he believes the vote was necessary because lawmakers are not showing any signs of tackling the budget deficit problem.

"Cooper and LaTourette thought they could get a 100 votes and if they did, that it would make a pretty good statement. It was a gamble, but it was a gamble worth taking," Bixby said.

"Simpson-Bowles was put out there at the end of 2010 and it's received a lot of rhetorical support, but it hasn't gone anywhere. I think that Cooper and LaTourette thought that it was 'put up' or 'shut up' time. Unfortunately a lot of people 'shut up,'" he said.