Washington, D.C. – The following is a written statement from Jill Lancelot, President of Taxpayers for Common Sense, on the death of Senator William Proxmire (D-WI):

Today, we are mourning the loss of a great American. Senator William Proxmire was one of the most courageous, committed lawmakers ever to grace the hallowed halls of the U.S. Capitol. The Senator was our hero and a guiding light for fiscal responsibility. As a citizen legislator, his constituents and the nation always were put before Washington special interests.

Throughout his 32-year career in Congress, Senator Proxmire fought for a better, more efficient government by focusing public attention on government waste. Senator Proxmire created the Golden Fleece Award in 1975 as a way to galvanize public opinion against wasteful spending. The first award was given to the National Science Foundation for conducting an $84,000 study about why people fall in love. The awards helped save millions of dollars by causing targeted programs to be curtailed, modified or cancelled, and by putting government officials on notice to prevent future waste.

The Senator was also well-known for his high standards of integrity, dedication and frugality. After a ritual morning exercise of 100 push-ups and a four-mile run, the Senator brought his extraordinary energy to his work in Congress. In his last two Senate campaigns of 1976 and 1982, Proxmire refused to take any campaign contributions, and spent on each less than $200 out of his own pocket.
Suffice it to say that Senator Proxmire will be sorely missed. But his legacy and the Golden Fleece will live on. And when he gets to the pearly gates, heaven better be sure there isn’t any wasteful spending, because they just got one fiscally responsible angel.

Contact: Keith Ashdown
(202) 546-8500 x110