As one of Indiana's most effective and respected leaders, State Senator Vi Simpson has spent a career fighting for causes that matter most to Hoosiers.

In her time in the Indiana State Senate, Simpson has worked to make health care more affordable and accessible for all Hoosiers. She's led the fight to restructure the state's economy so businesses and workers can more effectively compete in the global marketplace and she's been a tireless advocate for improving Indiana's public schools and universities.

First elected to the Senate in 1984, Simpson has served as the Assistant Senate Democrat Leader since 2006. In addition to her leadership duties, she currently serves as the ranking Democrat on the Senate's Homeland Security, Transportation & Veterans Affairs Committee and is a member of the Health & Provider Services; Commerce, Public Policy & Interstate Cooperation; Insurance & Financial Institutions; and Rules and Legislative Procedure standing committees.

Widely regarded as an expert on the state's finances, Simpson served as the caucus' representative on the State Budget Committee from 1998 to 2007. She was the first woman to serve on and lead the powerful committee.

Among her many legislative accomplishments include authoring legislation that created Indiana's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which has become a national model for delivering cost-effective health services to uninsured children. She is also credited with creating national award winning legislation dealing with voluntary environmental cleanups. In 2002, Simpson and her colleagues initiated the debate on tax restructuring and property tax reform which led to the passage of historic legislation that revamped the state's entire tax code.

She has received a variety of state and national awards and honors for her work. She has been named “Legislator of the Year” by the State Employees Association, the Indiana Library Federation, the Indiana Wildlife Federation and numerous other organizations. On the national level, Simpson has been honored with the Distinguished Legislator Award by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, the National Legislator of the Year by the American Academy of Physicians, and in 2005 the American Medical Association awarded Simpson their highest honor, the Dr. Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service.

Simpson, who served as Monroe County Auditor before joining the Indiana General Assembly, received her law degree from Indiana University School of Law. She has two adult children and resides in Ellettsville with her husband, former state senator Bill McCarty.