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Dave Obey
Dave Obey
Chair of the House Appropriations Committee
	In office; January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Jerry Lewis
Succeeded by	Hal Rogers
	In office; March 29, 1994 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by	William Natcher
Succeeded by	Bob Livingston
Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee
	In office; January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2007
Preceded by	Joseph M. McDade
Succeeded by	Jerry Lewis
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives; from Wisconsin's 7th district
	In office; April 1, 1969 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Melvin Laird
Succeeded by	Sean Duffy
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly; from the 2nd Marathon County district
	In office; January 7, 1963 – April 1, 1969
Preceded by	Paul A. Luedtke
Succeeded by	Tony Earl
Personal details
Born	David Ross Obey; October 3, 1938 (age 86); Okmulgee, Oklahoma, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Joan Obey; (m. 1962; died 2023)
Children	2
Education	University of Wisconsin, Madison (BS, MA)
	Dave Obey's voice Obey criticizes President Bill Clinton's use of the line-item veto; Recorded November 8, 1997

David Ross Obey (/ˈoʊbiː/ OH-bee; born October 3, 1938) is an American lobbyist and former politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for Wisconsin's 7th congressional district from 1969 to 2011. The district includes much of the northwestern portion of the state, including Wausau and Superior. He is a member of the Democratic Party, and served as Chairman of the powerful House Committee on Appropriations from 1994 to 1995 and again from 2007 to 2011. He was the longest-serving member ever of the United States House of Representatives from the state of Wisconsin, until surpassed by Jim Sensenbrenner in 2020.

Early life and career

Obey was born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, the son of Mary Jane (née Chellis) and Orville John Obey.^[1] In 1941, his family moved back to his parents' native Wisconsin, and Obey was raised in Wausau, Wisconsin, where he has lived since.^[1] He graduated from Wausau East High School and initially attended the University of Wisconsin branch campus at Wausau to save money before transferring to the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from and did graduate work in Soviet politics at.^[2]^[3]

During his youth, Obey identified as a Republican, and helped deliver campaign material for Joseph McCarthy during his electoral campaigns.^[3] However, he left the party after seeing one of his teachers falsely branded as a communist by supporters of Senator Joseph McCarthy.^[4] Obey also had come to identify with the progressive philosophy of Robert M. La Follette and began working for the electoral campaigns of Democrats such as Gaylord Nelson, Robert Kastenmeier, and William Proxmire, becoming affiliated with the Democratic Party sometime in the mid-1950s during his teenage years.^[4]^[3]

Before serving in Congress, Obey worked as a real estate broker.^[5]

Wisconsin State Assembly

He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1963 and served there until 1969. During his time in the state legislature he rose to the position of Assistant Majority leader for the Democratic caucus.^[3] Obey served in that role from 1967 until 1969, when he left the legislature to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.^[5]^[2]

U.S. House of Representatives

David Obey Center for Health Sciences at Northcentral Technical College in Wausau

Obey was elected to the House to replace eight-term incumbent Republican Melvin R. Laird, who was appointed Secretary of Defense under President Richard Nixon. Obey, only 30 when he was elected, became the youngest member of Congress upon taking his seat, as well as the first Democrat to represent the district in the 20th century. He was elected to a full term in 1970 and was reelected 18 times. Obey faced his closest race in 1972, during his bid for a second full term, when his district was merged with the neighboring 10th District of Republican Alvin O'Konski, a 15-term incumbent. However, Obey retained 60 percent of his former territory, and was handily reelected in subsequent contests.

In Congress, Obey chaired the commission to write the House's Code of Ethics. Among the reforms he instituted was one requiring members of the House to disclose their personal financial dealings so the public would be made aware of any potential conflicts of interest. Obey served as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee from 2007 to 2011; he briefly chaired this committee from 1994 to 1995 and served as its ranking Democrat from 1995 to 2007. He also chaired its Subcommittee on Labor.

Obey was one of the most liberal members of the House; he considers himself a progressive in the tradition of Robert La Follette.^[6] Obey had risen to the position of fifth ranking House Democrat since his party retook control of Congress.

During the 1970s, Obey was the leader of the Democratic Study Group, which was a caucus of liberal Democrats in the House which was intended to "counter" the influence of conservative and southern Democrats.^[3]

His "Obey Amendment" has prohibited the export of the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor to American allies such as Japan.^[7] The amendment was criticized at the time by the U.S. Department of Labor for

Obey also is remembered for being the congressman who intervened when fellow Democrat Harold Ford, Jr. approached Republican Jean Schmidt on the House floor in 2005. Ford was upset because Schmidt had called Congressman John Murtha a coward for advocating a withdrawal of American forces in Iraq.

Obey holds a critical view of the mainstream American news media, as evidenced by his words on June 13, 2008, upon the sudden death of NBC News Washington Bureau Chief Tim Russert. Obey said of Russert: "Tim Russert's death is not just a body blow for NBC News; it is a body blow for the nation and for anyone who cherishes newsmen and women who have remained devoted to reporting hard news in an era increasingly consumed by trivia."^[8] Dave Obey announced an end to his congressional career on May 5, 2010, with press releases being released on May 6.^[9]

On June 30, 2010, Obey proposed an amendment to a supplemental war spending bill that would allocate $10 billion to prevent expected teacher layoffs from school districts nationwide. The amendment, which passed the House on July 1, 2010, proposed siphoning off $500 million from the Race to the Top fund as well as $300 million designated for charter schools and teacher incentive pay.^[10] In response, the White House released a statement threatening a veto if the bill is passed by the Senate.^[11]

On March 21, 2010, Obey swung the same gavel used to pass Medicare in 1965, but this time to pass the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.^[12]^[13]

Retirement

Obey was expected to run in 2010, having raised a warchest of $1.4 million. However, Obey was facing tough poll numbers in his district, plus his age and the death of close colleague John Murtha and his frustration with the White House convinced him to bow out of the race.^[14]^[15]

On May 5, 2010, Obey announced that he would not seek reelection to Congress.

Political campaigns

In 1994, Obey only won reelection by eight points as the Democrats lost control of the House during the Republican Revolution.^[16]

2008

2010

Obey was expected to run in 2010, having raised a warchest of $1.4 million. However, Obey was facing tough poll numbers in his district, plus his age and the death of close colleague John Murtha and his frustration with the White House convinced him to bow out of the race.^[14]^[15]

Upon his retirement, the seat was won by Republican Sean Duffy, who defeated Democratic State Senator Julie Lassa.

Later career

Obey left Congress in January 2011, and was succeeded by Republican Sean Duffy. He began working for Gephardt Government Affairs, a lobbying firm founded by former U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt, in June 2011.^[17]

Personal life

While Obey was still a graduate student, he married Joan Lepinski. The two remained married until Joan's death in 2023.^[3] Obey and his wife had two children together.^[18]

Books

Foreword to Along Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail by Eric Sherman and Andrew Hanson III (2008, University of Wisconsin Press) ISBN 978-0-299-22664-0
Raising Hell for Justice: The Washington Battles of a Heartland Progressive (2008, University of Wisconsin Press) ISBN 978-0-299-22540-7

References

^ ^a ^b Obey, David R. (2007). Raising hell for justice: the Washington battles of a heartland progressive. Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 9–11. ISBN 978-0-299-22540-7.
^ ^a ^b "Biography of David R. Obey". The Online Office of Congressman David R. Obey. Archived from the original on April 7, 2010. Retrieved April 15, 2010.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "David R. Obey Papers, 1962-2010 (bulk 1969-2010) - Biography/History". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
^ ^a ^b "Congressional Record - House" (PDF). Congressional Record. September 26, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 3, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Historical Essay - Obey, David R. (b. 1938)". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
^ "Biography of David R. Obey". The Online Office of Congressman David R. Obey. Archived from the original on May 12, 2009. Retrieved May 19, 2009.
^ Chanlett-Avery, Emma (11 March 2009). "Potential F-22 Raptor Export to Japan" (PDF). fas.org. CRS. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
^ "Reactions To Tim Russert's Passing". CBS News. June 13, 2008. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
^ "Dave Obey's Retirement Statement". The Chippewa Herald. May 6, 2010. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
^ Anderson, Nick (June 30, 2010). "Lawmaker wants to shift some 'Race to the Top' funds to prevent teacher layoffs". Washington Post. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
^ Anderson, Nick (July 2, 2010). "Obama's education program faces $500M cut despite veto threat". Washington Post. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
^ "House Passes Health Reform". CBS News. 2010-03-21.
^ Paul Begala (2010-03-21). "Hallelujah!". Huffington Post.
^ ^a ^b "Obey won't seek reelection". Politico. 5 May 2010.
^ ^a ^b Rutenberg, Jim; Zeleny, Jeff (November 3, 2010). "Republican Game Plan Led to Historic Victory". The New York Times.
^ The 1996 Almanac of American Politics pg. 1466
^ Frates, Chris (June 3, 2011). "David Obey heading to K Street". Politico. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
^ "Joan T. Obey - Obituaries". Wausau Daily Herald. October 10, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2024.

External links

Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
Profile at Vote Smart
Profile at the Democratic Party of Wisconsin
A Hard-Edged Cheesehead and the Power of the Purse, Silla Brush, U.S. News & World Report, July 8, 2007
BBC World News America interview with David Obey on his retirement
Appearances on C-SPAN

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Melvin Laird	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 7th congressional district 1969–2011	Succeeded by Sean Duffy
Preceded by William Natcher	Chair of the House Appropriations Committee 1994–1995	Succeeded by Bob Livingston
Preceded by Jerry Lewis	Chair of the House Appropriations Committee 2007–2011	Succeeded by Hal Rogers
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by Jim Sensenbrenner as Former US Representative	Order of precedence of the United States as Former US Representative	Succeeded by George Miller as Former US Representative