CRFB Announces New Co-Chairs

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget has named three of the nation's foremost budget experts as its new co-chairs: Mitch Daniels, Leon Panetta, and Tim Penny. We are confident that the organization, as well as fiscal hawks across the country, will benefit greatly from their leadership.

“We are uncommonly lucky to have these three great leaders join together to lead the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget,” said Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee. “Between them, they have written several books; led states, congressional committees, and federal agencies; and headed the Office of Management and Budget — not to mention all being well-known leaders in calling for fiscal responsibility.”

The leadership team indeed has many accomplishments among them. Daniels, the president of Purdue University, served as governor of Indiana (2005-2013), director of the Office of Management and Budget (2001-2003), and senior adviser to President Reagan (1985-1987). In the private sector, he was president of Eli Lilly and Company's North American Pharmaceutical Operations. He is the author of the best-selling book, "Keeping the Republic: Saving America by Trusting Americans."

Panetta has served as secretary of Defense (2011-2013), director of the CIA (2009-2011), chief of staff to President Clinton (1994-1997), director of the Office of Management and Budget (1993-1994), and as a representative for California's 17th District (1977-1993). In Congress, he chaired the House Budget Committee. He founded the Panetta Institute for Public Policy in 1998 with his wife, Sylvia, and serves on many boards and commissions, including the Public Policy Institute of California.

Penny served as Minnesota’s 1st District representative in the House of Representatives from 1982-1994. He chaired the Democratic Budget Group as well as the Porkbusters Coalition. In 2001, he was appointed to President George W. Bush's bipartisan commission on Social Security. Currently, Penny serves as the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation’s president and CEO. He is the co-author of two books, “Common Cents” and “The 15 Biggest Lies in Politics.”

To find out what the three have to say about their new roles in the budget policy sphere or to see a snapshot of all of the Committee’s current work, read the full press release here.