Simpson-Bowles, Co-Chairs of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, to Headline Event
Arlington, VA – The National Grocers Association (N.G.A.) is pleased to announce Fmr U.S. Senator Alan Simpson and Fmr White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles, who served as co-chairs of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, as the Opening Session speakers (sponsored by Kraft Foods) at the N.G.A. Show, February 10-13, 2013 in Las Vegas. Last year’s N.G.A. Show reached record breaking attendance. However, given the upcoming keynote speakers’ involvement and concern with reducing taxes for business owners, N.G.A. expects to surpass last year’s record. The N.G.A. Show equips independent grocers with unique learning experiences on how best to succeed and adapt to marketplace trends.
“During a time when our country continues to be in fiscal dire straits, Messrs. Simpson and Bowles remained steadfast in their dedication serving as co-chairs of the Presidential Commission on the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. Their ability to find bold bipartisan recommendations to cut the national deficit and establish tax reform was unprecedented,” stated Peter J. Larkin, N.G.A. President & CEO. “With another recession looming, if appropriate legislative measures are not implemented by Congress, N.G.A. is honored to have such fiscal stalwarts kick off the 2013 N.G.A. Show by addressing important economic issues that are of great concern to our members and business owners.”
Alan Simpson was elected to the United States Senate in 1978. After a successful first term, he was re-elected in 1984 with 78% of the vote and then again in 1990 to a third term with 65% of the vote. Following his first term in the Senate, Simpson was elected by his peers to the position of the Assistant Majority Leader in 1984—and served Majority Leader Bob Dole in that capacity until 1994. He completed his final term on January 3, 1997.
Erskine Bowles joined the administration of President Bill Clinton as Administrator of the Small Business Administration. In 1993, he was brought to the White House to serve as President Clinton’s Deputy Chief of Staff and later as Chief of Staff. As Chief of Staff, he served as a member of the President’s Cabinet and on both the National Security Council and the National Economic Council. Working at the direction of the President and with the Republican House of Representatives and Senate, Bowles negotiated the first balanced budget in a generation.
In 2010, President Barak Obama asked Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles to co-chair the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. This bipartisan commission produced a plan to reduce the Nation’s deficits by $4 trillion over the next decade. The plan was supported by a supermajority of the commission with equal support from both Republican and Democrat members.
Over the next few months, N.G.A. will have a number of exciting announcements regarding speakers, programs and events for the 2013 N.G.A. Show. Please be sure to check our website http://www.thengashow.com/ for the latest updates.