Alan Simpson

Alan Simpson (b. 1931) served Wyoming in the U.S. Senate from 1979 to 1997. Despite being a member of the Republican Party, Simpson served as a liberal on social issues, benefiting from the conservative reputation of his father, Milward L. Simpson, who served Wyoming in the U.S. Senate from 1962-1967 after having been governor of Wyoming from 1955-1959. Simpson was an advocate of fiscally conservative positions and argued strongly for entitlement reform. Despite his Republican affiliation Simpson supports abortion. He was a leader of the Simpson/Bowles committee. Since leaving the Senate, Simpson has taught at graduate school.

Simpson's political leanings are best summed up in his own words:

Any education that matters is "liberal." All the saving truths, all the healing graces that distinguish a good education from a bad one or a full education from a half empty one are contained in that word.

Simpson has been an advocate of a balanced federal budget and has supported entitlement reform. He occasionally teaches at the University of Wyoming.