Robert L. Bixby, executive director of the Concord Coalition, was one of several deficit hawks who said the jobs issue is not incompatible with the joint committee’s work, in view of the nation’s tepid recovery from recession — so long as costs are offset.

“If the president has something that looks like it has good potential bang for the buck in the short term and would pay for it over a 10-year period, that would be something that you would want to consider,” Bixby said.