ALAN K. SIMPSON
b. September 2, 1931
SENATOR ALAN SIMPSON
(R-WYOMING) 1979-1997
Photograph published in the
June 21, 1982, issue of
BUSINESS WEEK (p. 38)
Senator Simpson was the Republican Whip from 1985-1995 (his Congressional biography is here). His most recent notable post was as co-chair of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, appointed with Erskine Bowles in February 2010 (see here and here). The commission delivered its report in November 2010 (details and more of Simpson's biography here). When President Obama, who convened the commission, seemed not to implement its recommendations, Simpson begged to differ and was given a platform to say so and to talk up his budget ideas (see, e.g., here). When asked to give an idea of cuts that could be made in military spending, something he said he favored, which weapons system did Simpson choose for the chopping block? None; rather, the Pentagon's health system, and specifically its "2.2 million military retirees," were his targets. The former Senator cited this as proof of bravery on his part (see here).
No comments:
Post a Comment