I want to wish everybody a very Happy Labor Day. To be honest, I prefer Memorial Day because that holiday marks the unofficial start of summer while Labor Day means the days will be getting shorter and colder. And, of course, it also means Congress will eventually return to work. It was a weird and stressful summer with Congress setting the stage for massive amounts of spending and potential tax increases. And, of course, our hearts go out to those that lost loved ones in the suicide bombing in Afghanistan and the weather events caused by Hurricane Ida. September (or what we call at the Taxpayers Protection Alliance "Spendtember") and the rest of the year is going to be busy, so get some rest and be ready for a wild finish to 2021.
Profile in Courage: Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wy.)
In today’s hyper-partisan political climate in Washington, D.C., lawmakers seem to care more about pleasing their base than tending to the task of governing. Consensus builders tend to be rare, and the relatively few "bipartisan" proposals tend to bloat the budget without doing much good. The late Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wy.) was a lawmaker that exemplified bipartisanship and common sense. He worked tirelessly to forge consensus around policies that would keep federal power at bay and empower ordinary Americans to make their own decisions. And while Sen. Enzi’s record is far from perfect, he is certainly a Profile in Courage for striving to keep the nation’s best interests at heart. After earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting at George Washington University and an MBA from the University of Denver, Mike Enzi and his bride Diana endeavored to open NZ Shoes located in Gillette, Wyoming. Business was on the upswing in the early 1970s as Gillette doubled in population and burgeoning coal sales in the Powder River Basin meant increased shoe sales.
After Enzi delivered a speech on community leadership at the Wyoming Jaycees Convention, the young man was approached by then-State Rep. Alan Simpson (who would later to go on to be the U.S. Senator that Enzi would succeed). Simpson was impressed by Enzi’s speech and urged him to run for mayorship of Gillette. As Simpson bluntly put it, “That town you live in, Gillette, needs a mayor.” Enzi heeded the call and became mayor in 1974 at the young age of 29. The salesman-turned-politician enjoyed an eight year stint as mayor before returning to business for a few years and then turning his ambitions back to politics. Enzi used the late 1980s and early 1990s to widen his political aspirations, serving both in Wyoming’s state house and state senate. Once again, Enzi’s life took a dramatic turn due to the actions of then-Sen. Simpson. Simpson announced in 1995 that he was retiring from the U.S. Senate, leaving open a seat that Enzi could fill. Enzi seized the opportunity, defeating Republican primary opponents such as John Barrasso and Democratic general election opponent Kathy Karpan to represent his state on Capitol Hill.
Sen. Enzi would go on to serve his constituents on the national stage for nearly 25 years before announcing his retirement ahead of the 2020 election. In his two decades as Senator, Enzi would prove influential in pushing for market-based policy proposals. As chair of the Congressional Pension Reform Conference Committee, Enzi was instrumental to the passage of the Pension Protection Act of 2006. The law ushered in some of the most sweeping pension policy changes in decades by increasing contribution limits on retirement plans and allowing direct conversion of 401(k), 403(b), and 457 plan assets to Roth individual retirement account assets. Enzi also worked hard to improve America’s education system, teaming up with Democratic Iowa Senator Tom Harkin to reform No Child Left Behind and allow states much-needed flexibility over performance measures. Wyoming’s long-serving senator also showcased his willingness to think outside the box by championing a proposal to do away with the penny (which typically costs more to make than its face value). America is still stuck with the penny unfortunately, but Enzi’s idea is bound to have staying power as lawmakers continue to consider monetary changes. Unfortunately, Enzi met an untimely end shortly after retiring from the U.S. Senate. He passed away after a bicycle accident on July 26, 2021. Let’s hope that other lawmakers pave the way for the next generation of like-minded public servants. Sen. Enzi’s passing also reminds us to make an effort to appreciate the work of public servants before they are gone.
BLOGS:
MEDIA:
August 25, 2021: NeighborNewsOnline.com ran TPA’s op-ed, “Louisiana lawmakers push policy to expand broadband access in state.”
August 25, 2021: WBFF Fox45 (Baltimore, Md.) quoted TPA in their story, “Full Baltimore COVID-19 money spending office yet to be seated, priorities remain murky.”
August 26, 2021: WBFF Fox45 (Baltimore, Md.) quoted TPA in their story, “City admits breakdown in Teleworking Program.”
August 30, 2021: WBFF Fox45 (Baltimore, Md.) interviewed me about a new consulting contract approved by the Mayor.
September 1, 2021: The Washington Examiner (Washington, D.C.) ran TPA’s op-ed, “Give Baltimore students a chance to succeed.”
September 1, 2021: The NH Journal ran TPA’s op-ed, “Democrats Claim to Care About Poor People — Unless They’re Smokers.”
September 1, 2021: Townhall.com ran TPA’s op-ed, “Congress Must Rein in Federal Agencies.”
September 1, 2021: Inside Sources ran TPA’s op-ed, “Spacesuits, Shmacesuits; No Need for Human-Led Forays into Space.”
September 2, 2021: WBFF Fox45 (Baltimore, Md.) interviewed me about the August jobs numbers.
September 2, 2021: I appeared on WBOB 600 AM (Jacksonville, Fla.) to talk about unemployment and food stamp benefits.
Have a great weekend!
