Profile in Courage: Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wy.)

In today’s hyper-partisan political climate in Washington, D.C., lawmakers seem to care more about pleasing their base than tending to the task of governing. Consensus builders tend to be rare, and the relatively few “bipartisan” proposals tend to bloat the budget without doing much good. Therefore, it is important to remember and honor the few members of Congress that stood for commendable principles while trying their best to forge agreement across party lines. The late Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wy.) was a lawmaker that exemplified bipartisanship and common sense. He worked tirelessly to forge consensus around policies that would keep federal power at bay and empower ordinary Americans to make their own decisions. And while Sen. Enzi’s record is far from perfect, he is certainly a Profile in Courage for striving to keep the nation’s best interests at heart.

Some lawmakers are born into political dynasties, bred from an early age to pursue politics. Others are political outsiders who nonetheless crave the stage from an early age. But, Sen. Enzi had a different passion entering adulthood: shoe sales. After earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting at George Washington University and an MBA from the University of Denver, Mike Enzi and his bride Diana endeavored to open NZ Shoes located in Gillette, Wyoming. Business was on the upswing in the early 1970s as Gillette doubled in population and burgeoning coal sales in the Powder River Basin meant increased shoe sales. 

But a fateful encounter with a state politician would change Enzi’s life forever. After Enzi gave a speech on community leadership at the Wyoming Jaycees Convention, the young man was approached by then-State Rep. Alan Simpson (who would later to go on to be the U.S. Senator that Enzi would succeed). Simpson was impressed by Enzi’s speech and urged him to run for mayorship of Gillette. As Simpson bluntly put it, “That town you live in, Gillette, needs a mayor.” Enzi heeded the call and became mayor in 1974 at the young age of 29. The salesman-turned-politician enjoyed an eight-year-stint as mayor before returning to business for a few years and then turning his ambitions back to politics. Enzi used the late 1980s and early 1990s to widen his political aspirations, serving both in Wyoming’s state house and state senate. Once again, Enzi’s life took a dramatic turn due to the actions of then-Sen. Simpson. Simpson announced in 1995 that he was retiring from the U.S. Senate, leaving open a seat that Enzi could fill. Enzi seized the opportunity, defeating Republican primary opponents such as John Barrasso and Democratic general election opponent Kathy Karpan to represent his state on Capitol Hill. 

Sen. Enzi would go on to serve his constituents on the national stage for nearly 25 years before announcing his retirement ahead of the 2020 election. In his two decades as Senator, Enzi would prove influential in pushing for market-based policy proposals. As chair of the Congressional Pension Reform Conference Committee, Enzi was instrumental to the passage of the Pension Protection Act of 2006. The law ushered in some of the most sweeping pension policy changes in decades by increasing contribution limits on retirement plans and allowing direct conversion of 401(k), 403(b), and 457 plan assets to Roth individual retirement account assets. Enzi also worked hard to improve America’s education system, teaming up with Democratic Iowa Senator Tom Harkin to reform No Child Left Behind and allow states much-needed flexibility over performance measures. Wyoming’s long-serving senator also showcased his willingness to think outside the box by championing a proposal to do away with the penny (which typically costs more to make than its face value). America is still stuck with the penny unfortunately, but Enzi’s idea is bound to have staying power as lawmakers continue to consider monetary changes. 

Unfortunately, Enzi met an untimely end shortly after retiring from the U.S. Senate. He passed away after a bicycle accident on July 26, 2021. After the news became public, his former colleagues and other public officials wasted no time eulogizing the man who helped foster compromise and spirited policy discussions. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) noted, “Through decades of friendship & service, I was honored to learn from Mike. He cared about the future of our country in every way & kept a sharp eye on Congress’ fiscal responsibilities.” 

Sen. Enzi was truly a Profile in Courage. Let’s hope that other lawmakers pave the way for the next generation of like-minded public servants. Sen. Enzi’s passing also reminds us to make an effort to appreciate the work of public servants before they are gone.