Statement on the Passing of Jim Kolbe

Congressman Jim Kolbe, a member of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget board and former Representative from Arizona, died Saturday at the age of 80. The following is a statement from Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget:

Jim Kolbe was a dedicated public servant, an effective champion on numerous important public policy issues, an invaluable member of our board, and a kind and loyal friend.

During his 22 years in office and 16 years since, Jim worked tirelessly to bring people together to tackle the tough issues. Whether he was putting forward solutions on Social Security solvency or pushing for improvements in trade policy, Jim never shied away from doing what he thought was right for our country.

Virtually every member of our staff and board has benefited from Jim’s wisdom and his kindness at one point or another. We were lucky to have him as part of our organization, and we will all miss him very much.

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For more information, please contact Kim McIntyre, Director of Media Relations, at mcintyre@crfb.org.