MEET ROBERT BIXBY:
Robert L. Bixby is Executive Director of The Concord Coalition, a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to fiscal responsibility. Bixby was named Executive Director of the Concord Coalition in 1999, after serving as the organization's Policy Director, National Field Director, and in other capacities since 1992. He frequently represents Concord's views on budget and entitlement reform policy at congressional hearings and in the national media.
Bixby has a bachelor's degree in political science from American University in Washington, D.C., a juris doctorate from George Mason University School of Law in Arlington, Va., and a master's degree in public administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Prior to his work with the Concord Coalition Mr. Bixby practiced law and served as the Chief Staff Attorney of the Court of Appeals of Virginia.
For Our Grandchildren's Tim Penny, caught up with Robert Bixby recently to ask a few pointed questions.
Interview
Penny: We're hearing a lot about the Fiscal Wake Up Tour these days. What was the spark that led you to organize the tour?
Robert Bixby: To a large degree, the Fiscal Wake Up Tour is the result of "spontaneous combustion" -- as members of the various groups did events in Washington, many of us from different perspectives were saying the same things about the problem. The Concord Coalition has long emphasized its grassroots component so we suggested to the others that we "hit the road" with our message.
Penny: How were you able to pull together so many organizations that usually differ on the issues?
Robert Bixby: The Concord Coalition was able to bring together groups that differ on many issues because despite the differences, we all agreed that the nation's fiscal policy is unsustainable over the long term.
The purpose of the Tour is to explain in plain terms the nation's long-term fiscal outlook in plain terms. Our emphasis is on the key areas in which we have found consensus, such as:
*The overall dimensions of the problem.
*The nature of the realistic trade-offs that must be confronted in finding solutions.
*The adverse and inequitable consequences for future generations if we fail to make serious changes, sooner rather than later.
Our mission is to cut through the usual partisan rhetoric and stimulate a more realistic public dialogue on what we want our nation's future to look like, along with the required trade-offs. We believe that elected leaders in Washington know there is a problem, but they are unlikely to
act unless their constituents better understand the need for action, and indeed, demand it. Members of the Fiscal Wake-Up Tour do not necessarily agree on the ideal levels of spending, taxes and debt, but we do agree on the following key points:
*Current fiscal policy is unsustainable.
*There are no free lunch solutions, such as cutting waste fraud and abuse or growing our way out of the problem.
*The best way to make the hard choices is through a bipartisan process with all options on the table.
*Public engagement and understanding is vital in finding solutions.
*This is not about numbers. It is a moral issue.
Penny: Discuss David Walker's role in the Tour.
Robert Bixby: The Fiscal Wake Up Tour is a highly collaborative effort of the groups involved. The Comptroller General is obviously a key participant. We were delighted that Comptroller General Walker accepted our invitation to participate in Town Hall meetings and forums across the country to "state the facts and speak the truth regarding the nation's current financial condition and long term fiscal outlook." He has been described by the Washington Post as the "rock star" of the Tour
Penny: How do you rate the success of the Tour so far?
Robert Bixby: The Fiscal Wake Up Tour has been extremely successful both outside of Washington, DC and inside "The Beltway." We have drawn large and enthusiastic crowds, and have been especially pleased by the active involvement and participation of young people. Further, audiences are
particularly appreciative of the civil dialogue of the panel. We have been covered by numerous local media outlets, by national media outlets such as AP and 60 Minutes as well as by national newspapers such as the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post. Participants in the Tour
have testified before House and Senate Committees, and have met with many Administration officials and Congressional leaders.
Penny: Will America "Wake Up" before it's too late?
Robert Bixby: Change will happen whether we "wake up" or not. The question is whether we take on this challenge while we have time to phase in reforms or whether we will deal with these problems in a crisis atmosphere. Everyone involved in the Fiscal Wake Up Tour is confident that when the public and policymakers are engaged and involved in this issue, we will "wake up" before it's too late.
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