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Former Gov. Angus King has picked up the endorsement of the other half of the Simpson-Bowles deficit-reduction duo.

Former Republican Sen. Alan Simpson of Wyoming has endorsed King, the King campaign announced today. Simpson, a former assistant republican leader in the Senate, co-chaired the bipartisan deficit reduction task force  that came to be known as the Simpson-Bowles Commission. The commission's plan calls for a combination of spending cuts, tax reform and tax increases. It wasn't adopted by Congress but is still shaping the debate about debt reduction in Washington.

The other co-chair, Erskine Bowles, is a Democrat and former chief of staff to Pres. Bill Clinton. Bowles endorsed King earlier in the campaign and came to Portland in September to appear at a King campaign event focusing on the debt and deficit. King has called the commission's plan a good framework for congressional action, but says he does not agree with all of its proposals.

Simpson, like Bowles, said King's status as a moderate independent and his experience as an independent governor could help him serve as a bridge in Congress.

"Today, Congress' sterile inability to make important compromises is truly threatening the state of our nation," Simpson said in a statement released by the King campaign.

"While Angus King may not be wedded to Simpson-Bowles in its entirety (few are!), he views it as a fine framework to build upon. The fact is that playing one party against the other isn't going to get us anywhere fast anymore," he said. "We need people in Congress who can build bridges, encourage compromises, and actually make things happen for the sake of our nation's future - not for their own election or re-election."

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Open Season targets all of Maine's political wildlife, from Portland city government to the donkeys, elephants and independents stalking the Statehouse and U.S. Capitol.

John Richardson joined the Press Herald in 1990 after working as a reporter in New Jersey. He has covered a variety of beats, including marine issues, the environment and health care. He is now covering politics and focusing on Maine's U.S. Senate race.
John can be reached at 791-6324 or jrichardson@pressherald.com
On Twitter: @jrichmaine

Colin Woodard has covered politics and elections for more than two decades, from Bosnia and Bucharest to Washington, D.C., Augusta, and Portland City Hall. He has written for a wide range of national and international publications and is the author of four books, including "American Nations," a history of North America's regional cultures. He joined the Portland Press Herald at the end of April and covers political finance and lobbying, among other things.
Colin can be reached at 791-6317 or cwoodard@pressherald.com

Susan Cover has covered Maine politics for 10 years and worked in Kansas, Ohio and Rhode Island as a reporter. This year, she is focusing on covering the same-sex marriage debate for MaineToday Media.
Susan can be reached at 621-5643 or scover@mainetoday.com

Michael Shepherd joined MaineToday Media in May 2012 after graduating from the University of Maine in Orono, where he edited The Maine Campus, the student newspaper there. Until November he'll be writing the Truth Test, a recurring feature analyzing political statements and advertising.
Michael can be reached at 621-5632 or mshepherd@mainetoday.com

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