# Alan Simpson, former Republican senator, dies in Wyoming

## Alistair Bell
Reuters

### Politics

**Content**
A proud advocate for conservative causes, former senator Alan Simpson had a strong libertarian streak that supported abortion rights and gay equality. His chief legacy in the Senate was the overhaul of U.S. immigration laws that was signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. Some 2.7 million illegal immigrants would eventually win legal status in the United States under the law, which Simpson put together with Democratic Rep. Romano Mazzoli of Kentucky. The reform was criticized by some Republicans as effectively allowing an amnesty, although it also tightened legal penalties on employers who hired undocumented foreigners. In 2011, shortly after he retired from the Senate, Simpson lamented how political bi-partisanship had declined. "Now it's just sharp elbows, and instead of having a caucus where you sit down and say, 'What are you going to do for your country?' you sit figuring out how to screw the other side," he told Time magazine.

Simpson's friendly style helped him form alliances with rivals on the other side of the floor. In 2022, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, by Democratic President Joe Biden, his longtime friend and former Senate colleague.

Born on Sept. 2, 1931, in Denver, Colorado, and raised in Cody, Wyoming, Alan Kooi Simpson served as a U.S. senator from Wyoming for nearly 20 years, including from 1985 to 1995 as minority whip – the second-ranking Republican post in the Democratic-controlled Senate of the time.

His chief legacy in the Senate was the overhaul of U.S. immigration laws that was signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. Some 2.7 million illegal immigrants would eventually win legal status in the United States under the law, which Simpson put together with Democratic Rep. Romano Mazzoli of Kentucky.

The reform was criticized by some Republicans as effectively allowing an amnesty, although it also tightened legal penalties on employers who hired undocumented foreigners.

In 2011, shortly after he retired from the Senate, Simpson lamented how political bi-partisanship had declined. "Now it's just sharp elbows, and instead of having a caucus where you sit down and say, 'What are you going to do for your country?' you sit figuring out how to screw the other side," he told Time magazine.

Simpson's sharp style helped him form alliances with rivals on the other side of the floor. In 2022, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, by Democratic President Joe Biden, his longtime friend and former Senate colleague.

Born on Sept. 2, 1931, in Denver, Colorado, and raised in Cody, Wyoming, Alan Kooi Simpson served as a U.S. senator from Wyoming for nearly 20 years, including from 1985 to 1995 as minority whip – the second-ranking Republican post in the Democratic-controlled Senate of the time.

His chief legacy in the Senate was the overhaul of U.S. immigration laws that was signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. Some 2.7 million illegal immigrants would eventually win legal status in the United States under the law, which Simpson put together with Democratic Rep. Romano Mazzoli of Kentucky.

The reform was criticized by some Republicans as effectively allowing an amnesty, although it also tightened legal penalties on employers who hired undocumented foreigners.

In 2011, shortly after he retired from the Senate, Simpson lamented how political bi-partisanship had declined. "Now it's just sharp elbows, and instead of having a caucus where you sit down and say, 'What are you going to do for your country?' you sit figuring out how to screw the other side," he told Time magazine.

Simpson's sharp style helped him form alliances with rivals on the other side of the floor. In 2022, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, by Democratic President Joe Biden, his longtime friend and former Senate colleague. 



**Featured Weekly Ad**

**Keep on reading**

**Gene Hackman's dog's cause of death released: Reports**

Officials have released a report on the death of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's Australian Kelpie mix, Zinna, who was found in a crate near Arakawa.

USA TODAY

**The Donald J. Trump Highway just crashed**

When it comes to bootlicking, Arizona leaders really need to up their game.

USA TODAY

**JD Vance addresses cousin's 'idiots' criticism of him, Donald Trump**

Vice President JD Vance calmly responds to his cousin, Nate Vance, after he called Donald Trump and the VP “Vladimir Putin’s useful idiots.”

USA TODAY

**I voted for Donald Trump. Here's the thing I am upset about.**

I am disappointed in Trump, and I voted for him.

USA TODAY
```