Former Sen. Proxmire of Wisc. Dies By FREDERIC J. FROMMER, Associated Press Writer 8 minutes ago Former Wisconsin Sen. William Proxmire, a political maverick who became Congress' leading scourge of big spending and government waste, has died. The 90-year-old Proxmire, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease, died around 1 a.m. EST Thursday at Copper Ridge, a convalescent home in Sykesville, Md., Copper Ridge spokeswoman Mindy Brandt said. She said she could not provide any details about his death. Over the years, the rebel Democrat developed an image of penny-pinching populism that played well with his homestate voters. But his support of...