Robert Bixby
Encyclopedia
Robert Bixby is the Executive Director of the Concord Coalition
, a nonpartisan
grassroots organization that educates the public about fiscal responsibility. The Coalition was founded in 1992, and Bixby was named the Executive Director in 1999. Bixby had previously served as the Coalition's Policy Director, National Field Director, and a variety of other roles since 1992.
, a J.D.
from George Mason University School of Law
, and a master's degree in public administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government
at Harvard University
. Before coming to the Concord Coalition, Bixby served as the Chief Staff Attorney at the Court of Appeals of Virginia
.
(D-Massachusetts) and became the first Virginia State Director of the Coalition. (Tsongas co-founded the Concord Coalition.) In 1995, Bixby became National Field Director at the Coalition, then Policy Director in 1997, before being named Executive Director in 1999.
Bixby regularly testifies before the U.S. Congress regarding the nation's fiscal policies, national budget plans, and budget deficits and government waste. He was a key member of the Coalition's Fiscal Wake-Up Tour
, which began in 2006. The tour runs in conjunction with the Peter G. Peterson Foundation in cities around the country to educate Americans about the growing national debt.
In a PBS News Hour program in November 2008, Bixby was introduced along with former Congressional Budget Office
director Robert Reischauer
as "two people who have long followed the [federal] budget, the lobbying, and the fights surrounding it, and all the fine print in between." During the segment, Bixby identified programs like Social Security
, Medicare
, and Medicaid
as spending areas that should be reassessed because they "run on autopilot." Bixby also noted that "a lot of waste...is in the eye of the beholder...What is somebody's waste is somebody else's lifeline from the federal government."
Bixby is frequently cited by the media, speaking on behalf of the Concord Coalition, on issues like the federal deficit and federal budget. He has been quoted by newspapers like the Washington Post on the fiscal impact of the 2010 federal health care reform bill, and the New York Times on the how to address the national debt. At the start of 2009, he warned that the federal deficit would have serious long-term consequences and that certain policies like permanent tax cuts and expanding entitlement programs to deal with the recession would only drive the deficit up further.
Bixby served as a member of the Debt Reduction Task Force at the Bipartisan Policy Center
.
Concord Coalition
The Concord Coalition is a political advocacy group in the United States, formed in 1992. A bipartisan organization, it was founded by former U.S. Senator Warren Rudman, former Secretary of Commerce Peter George Peterson, and the late U.S. Senator Paul Tsongas. The Concord Coalition's advocacy...
, a nonpartisan
Nonpartisan
In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation....
grassroots organization that educates the public about fiscal responsibility. The Coalition was founded in 1992, and Bixby was named the Executive Director in 1999. Bixby had previously served as the Coalition's Policy Director, National Field Director, and a variety of other roles since 1992.
Education and early career
Bixby received his bachelor's degree in political science from American UniversityAmerican University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
, a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from George Mason University School of Law
George Mason University School of Law
George Mason University School of Law is the law school of George Mason University, a state university in Virginia, United States...
, and a master's degree in public administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. Before coming to the Concord Coalition, Bixby served as the Chief Staff Attorney at the Court of Appeals of Virginia
Court of Appeals of Virginia
The Court of Appeals of Virginia, established January 1, 1985, is an eleven-judge body that hears appeals from decisions of Virginia's circuit courts and the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission. The Court sits in panels of at least three judges, and sometimes hears cases en banc...
.
Career and work at The Concord Coalition
In 1992, Bixby worked on the presidential campaign of the late U.S. Senator Paul TsongasPaul Tsongas
Paul Efthemios Tsongas was a United States Senator from Massachusetts from 1979 to 1985. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 1992 presidential election. He previously served as a U.S...
(D-Massachusetts) and became the first Virginia State Director of the Coalition. (Tsongas co-founded the Concord Coalition.) In 1995, Bixby became National Field Director at the Coalition, then Policy Director in 1997, before being named Executive Director in 1999.
Bixby regularly testifies before the U.S. Congress regarding the nation's fiscal policies, national budget plans, and budget deficits and government waste. He was a key member of the Coalition's Fiscal Wake-Up Tour
Fiscal Wake-Up Tour
The Fiscal Wake Up Tour was a joint public engagement initiative by The Concord Coalition, The Brookings Institution, and The Heritage Foundation. U. S. Comptroller General David M. Walker was an advisor and participated in each of the Tour's public events...
, which began in 2006. The tour runs in conjunction with the Peter G. Peterson Foundation in cities around the country to educate Americans about the growing national debt.
In a PBS News Hour program in November 2008, Bixby was introduced along with former Congressional Budget Office
Congressional Budget Office
The Congressional Budget Office is a federal agency within the legislative branch of the United States government that provides economic data to Congress....
director Robert Reischauer
Robert Reischauer
Robert D. Reischauer is an economist and president of the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan social and economic policy research institute in Washington D.C. He is a nationally known expert on the federal budget, health reform, Medicare, and Social Security...
as "two people who have long followed the [federal] budget, the lobbying, and the fights surrounding it, and all the fine print in between." During the segment, Bixby identified programs like Social Security
Social Security (United States)
In the United States, Social Security refers to the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program.The original Social Security Act and the current version of the Act, as amended encompass several social welfare and social insurance programs...
, Medicare
Medicare (United States)
Medicare is a social insurance program administered by the United States government, providing health insurance coverage to people who are aged 65 and over; to those who are under 65 and are permanently physically disabled or who have a congenital physical disability; or to those who meet other...
, and Medicaid
Medicaid
Medicaid is the United States health program for certain people and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and is managed by the states. People served by Medicaid are U.S. citizens or legal permanent...
as spending areas that should be reassessed because they "run on autopilot." Bixby also noted that "a lot of waste...is in the eye of the beholder...What is somebody's waste is somebody else's lifeline from the federal government."
Bixby is frequently cited by the media, speaking on behalf of the Concord Coalition, on issues like the federal deficit and federal budget. He has been quoted by newspapers like the Washington Post on the fiscal impact of the 2010 federal health care reform bill, and the New York Times on the how to address the national debt. At the start of 2009, he warned that the federal deficit would have serious long-term consequences and that certain policies like permanent tax cuts and expanding entitlement programs to deal with the recession would only drive the deficit up further.
Bixby served as a member of the Debt Reduction Task Force at the Bipartisan Policy Center
Bipartisan Policy Center
The is a non-profit organization that "drives principled solutions through rigorous analysis, reasoned negotiation, and respectful dialogue." Founded in 2007 by former Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole, and George Mitchell, "BPC combines politically-balanced policymaking...
.