Former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.) a moderate conservative known for his witty humor who was appointed to lead a commission on deficit reduction by former President Obama, died Friday at the age of 93.
The Associated Press reported that Simpson had struggled to recover from a broken hip in December.
He was an uncommonly generous man,” his older brother, Pete Simpson, said in a family statement. “And I mean generous in an absolutely unconditional way. Giving of his time, giving of his energy — and he did it in politics and he did it in the family, forever.
Simpson’s career in Washington began in 1979 and ended in 1997 after he declined to seek a fourth term to the Senate. In 2010, Obama appointed him to chair a national commission on deficit reduction with Erskine Bowles, a former deputy White House chief of staff under former President Clinton.
The commission produced a plan to reduce the deficit, but it ultimately did not get the support of the supermajority of commissioners needed to set up a vote in Congress.
“Al Simpson is known for his devoted lifelong service and unparalleled sense of humor. Whether serving in the United States Army, the Wyoming House of Representatives, or the United States Senate, his commitment and contributions made a consequential difference,” said Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), who now serves as majority whip, a leadership position once held by Simpson.
“While others ran from tough issues, Al embraced the opportunity to solve them. He cherished every fight to do what he thought was right. He was a mentor and a dear friend. Al’s incredible legacy will influence generations to come,” he added.
Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis ( R) also reflected fondly on Simpson’s impact on her life.
“Known for his famous humor and wit, Al was loved both in Wyoming and far outside our borders. Those who met Al knew that he never forgot a face or interaction. In addition to his service in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Senate, Al repeatedly stepped forward as a private citizen to work on important issues like the Iraq Study Group and the Simpson-Bowles Fiscal Responsibility Commission,” she said.
Simpson was honored in 2022 with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Former President Biden, a longtime Senate colleague of Simpson’s, awarded him the honor.
“Despite increasing polarization, he brought people together with wit and wisdom to make progress and find common ground. Never afraid to stand up for what he felt was right, he worked on pressing issues like campaign finance reform and marriage equality,” Biden said.
“Alan Simpson exemplifies our national ideals of civil discourse, responsible governance, and public service.”
