View source for Dave Obey

{{Short description|American politician (born 1938)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Dave Obey
| image               = Dave Obey, official Congressional photo portrait.jpg
| office              = Chair of the [[United States House Committee on Appropriations|House Appropriations Committee]]
| term_start          = January 3, 2007
| term_end            = January 3, 2011
| predecessor         = [[Jerry Lewis (California politician)|Jerry Lewis]]
| successor           = [[Hal Rogers]]
| term_start1         = March 29, 1994
| term_end1           = January 3, 1995
| predecessor1        = [[William Natcher]]
| successor1          = [[Bob Livingston]]
| office2             = Ranking Member of the [[House Appropriations Committee]]
| term_start2         = January 3, 1995
| term_end2           = January 3, 2007
| predecessor2        = [[Joseph M. McDade]]
| successor2          = Jerry Lewis
| state3              = [[Wisconsin]]
| district3           = {{ushr|WI|7|7th}}
| term_start3         = April 1, 1969
| term_end3           = January 3, 2011
| predecessor3        = [[Melvin Laird]]
| successor3          = [[Sean Duffy]]
| state_assembly4     = Wisconsin
| district4           = 2nd [[Marathon County, Wisconsin|Marathon County]]
| term_start4         = January 7, 1963
| term_end4           = April 1, 1969
| predecessor4        = [[Paul A. Luedtke]]
| successor4          = [[Tony Earl]]
| birth_name          = David Ross Obey
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1938|10|3}}
| birth_place         = [[Okmulgee, Oklahoma]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Joan Obey|1962|2023|end=died}}
| children            = 2
| education           = [[University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point at Wausau|University of Wisconsin, Wausau]]<br>[[University of Wisconsin, Madison]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]], [[Master of Arts|MA]])
| module              = {{Listen |pos=center |embed=yes |filename=Rep. Dave Obey Criticizes President Clinton's Use of the Line-Item Veto.ogg |title=Obey's voice |type=speech |description=Obey criticizing President [[Bill Clinton]]'s use of the [[Line-item veto in the United States|line-item veto]].<br>Recorded November 8, 1997}}
}}
'''David Ross Obey''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|oʊ|b|iː}} {{respell|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 {{ushr|WI|7}} from 1969 to 2011. The district includes much of the northwestern portion of the state, including [[Wausau, Wisconsin|Wausau]] and [[Superior, Wisconsin|Superior]]. He is a member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], and served as Chairman of the powerful [[United States House Committee on Appropriations|House Committee on Appropriations]] from 1994 to 1995 and again from 2007 to 2011. Until he was surpassed by [[Jim Sensenbrenner]] in 2020, Obey was the longest-serving member ever of the United States House of Representatives from the state of [[Wisconsin]]. Obey remains the longest serving Democratic Representative from Wisconsin.

==Early life and career==
Obey was born in [[Okmulgee, Oklahoma]], the son of Mary Jane (née Chellis) and Orville John Obey.<ref name=bookref1>{{cite book|last=Obey|first=David R.|title=Raising hell for justice: the Washington battles of a heartland progressive|publisher=University of Wisconsin Press|year=2007|location=Wisconsin|pages=[https://archive.org/details/raisinghellforju00obey/page/n21 9]–11|url=https://archive.org/details/raisinghellforju00obey|url-access=limited|isbn=978-0-299-22540-7}}</ref> In 1941, his family moved back to his parents' native Wisconsin, and Obey was raised in [[Wausau, Wisconsin]], where he has lived since.<ref name=bookref1/> He graduated from [[Wausau East High School]] and initially attended the [[University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point at Wausau|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 the University of Wisconsin under a National Defense Education Act three-year scholarship. <ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Biography of David R. Obey |url=http://obey.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12&Itemid=185 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100407204044/http://www.obey.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12&Itemid=185 |archive-date=April 7, 2010 |access-date=April 15, 2010 |publisher=The Online Office of Congressman David R. Obey}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=David R. Obey Papers, 1962-2010 (bulk 1969-2010) - Biography/History |url=https://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=wiarchives;view=reslist;subview=standard;didno=uw-whs-stpt00bz;focusrgn=bioghist;cc=wiarchives;byte=778504672 |access-date=November 19, 2024 |website=[[Wisconsin Historical Society]]}}</ref>

During his youth, Obey identified as a Republican, and helped deliver campaign material for Joseph McCarthy during his electoral campaigns.<ref name=":1" /> However, he left the party after seeing one of his teachers falsely branded as a communist by supporters of Senator [[Joseph McCarthy]].<ref name=":2">{{cite web |date=September 26, 2007 |title=Congressional Record - House |url=http://bulk.resource.org/gpo.gov/record/2007/2007_H10918.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203031941/http://bulk.resource.org/gpo.gov/record/2007/2007_H10918.pdf |archive-date=February 3, 2009 |access-date=January 15, 2022 |website=[[Congressional Record]]}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />

Before serving in Congress, Obey worked as a real estate broker.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Historical Essay - Obey, David R. (b. 1938) |url=https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS11285 |access-date=November 19, 2024 |website=[[Wisconsin Historical Society]]}}</ref>

== 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.<ref name=":1" /> Obey served in that role from 1967 until 1969, when he left the legislature to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" />

==U.S. House of Representatives==
[[File:ObeyCenterForHealthSciencesNorthcentralTechnicalCollege.jpg|thumb|right|David Obey Center for Health Sciences at [[Northcentral Technical College]] in [[Wausau, Wisconsin|Wausau]]]]
[[File:Bill_Clinton_with_Bill_Young_and_Dave_Obey.jpg|thumb|right|Dave Obey with former President [[Bill Clinton]] and Representative [[Bill Young (Florida politician)|Bill Young]] in September 2001.]]Obey was elected to the House to replace eight-term incumbent [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Melvin R. Laird]], who was appointed [[United States Secretary of Defense|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 [[United States House Committee on Appropriations|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 [[United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Labor]].

Obey was one of the most liberal members of the House; he considers himself a progressive in the tradition of [[Robert M. La Follette, Sr.|Robert La Follette]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Biography of David R. Obey |url=http://www.obey.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=180 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090512230141/http://www.obey.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=180 |archive-date=May 12, 2009 |access-date=May 19, 2009 |publisher=The Online Office of Congressman David R. Obey}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":1" />

His "Obey Amendment" has prohibited the export of the [[Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor]] to American allies such as Japan.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RS22684.pdf |title=Potential F-22 Raptor Export to Japan |last1=Chanlett-Avery |first1=Emma |date=11 March 2009 |website=fas.org |publisher=CRS |access-date=18 July 2018}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite news |date=June 13, 2008 |title=Reactions To Tim Russert's Passing |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/reactions-to-tim-russerts-passing/ |access-date=November 19, 2024 |work=[[CBS News]]}}</ref> Dave Obey announced an end to his congressional career on May 5, 2010, with press releases being released on May 6.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 6, 2010 |title=Dave Obey's Retirement Statement |url=http://www.chippewa.com/news/local/article_dea7b79e-5920-11df-a7c3-001cc4c002e0.html |access-date=November 19, 2024 |publisher=The Chippewa Herald}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Anderson |first=Nick |date=June 30, 2010 |title=Lawmaker wants to shift some 'Race to the Top' funds to prevent teacher layoffs |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/30/AR2010063002732.html |access-date=November 19, 2024 |newspaper=[[Washington Post]]}}</ref> In response, the White House released a statement threatening a veto if the bill is passed by the Senate.<ref>{{cite news |last=Anderson |first=Nick |date=July 2, 2010 |title=Obama's education program faces $500M cut despite veto threat |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/02/AR2010070202930.html |access-date=November 19, 2024 |newspaper=[[Washington Post]]}}</ref>

On March 21, 2010, Obey swung the same gavel used to pass [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]] in 1965, but this time to pass the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]].<ref>{{cite news | title = House Passes Health Reform | work = CBS News | date = 2010-03-21 | url = http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6321273n}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Hallelujah!| publisher = Huffington Post | date = 2010-03-21 | author = Paul Begala | url = https://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-begala/hallelujah_b_507743.html}}</ref>

=== 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.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=5 May 2010 |title=Obey won't seek reelection |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/05/obey-wont-seek-reelection-036812 |website=[[Politico]]}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{cite news |last1=Rutenberg |first1=Jim |last2=Zeleny |first2=Jeff |date=November 3, 2010 |title=Republican Game Plan Led to Historic Victory |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/04/us/politics/04campaign.html?_r=1 |work=The New York Times}}</ref>

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]].<ref>[[iarchive:almanacofamerica00mich/page/1466/mode/2up|The 1996 Almanac of American Politics pg. 1466]]</ref>

==== 2008 ====
{{See also|2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin#District 7}}

==== 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.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" />

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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Frates |first=Chris |date=June 3, 2011 |title=David Obey heading to K Street |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/06/david-obey-heading-to-k-street-056203 |access-date=November 19, 2024 |work=[[Politico]]}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
While Obey was still a graduate student, he married Joan Lepinski. The two remained married until Joan's death in 2023.<ref name=":1" /> Obey and his wife had two children together.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 10, 2023 |title=Joan T. Obey - Obituaries |url=https://www.wausaudailyherald.com/obituaries/pwix0592525 |access-date=November 19, 2024 |website=Wausau Daily Herald}}</ref>

==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==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{CongLinks | congbio=O000007 | votesmart=27140 | fec=H6WI07033 | congress= }}<!--
Links formerly displayed via the CongLinks template:
* [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/400300 Congressional profile] at [[GovTrack]]
* [http://www.opencongress.org/people/show/400300_David_Obey Congressional profile] at [[Participatory Politics Foundation|OpenCongress]]
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00004394 Financial information (federal office)] at [[Center for Responsive Politics|OpenSecrets.org]]
* [http://www.legistorm.com/member/403/Rep_David_Ross_Obey.html Staff salaries, trips and personal finance] at LegiStorm.com
* [http://www.ontheissues.org/House/David_Obey.htm Issue positions and quotes] at [[On the Issues]]
* [http://www.c-spanvideo.org/person/1621 Appearances] on [[C-SPAN]] programs
* [http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/o/david_r_obey/index.html Collected news and commentary] at ''[[The New York Times]]''
* -->
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080606002639/http://www.wisdems.org/index.php?display=CandidateDetails&id=246241 Profile] at the [[Democratic Party of Wisconsin]]
*[https://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/070708/16obey.htm A Hard-Edged Cheesehead and the Power of the Purse], Silla Brush, ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]'', July 8, 2007
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/world_news_america/9157161.stm BBC World News America interview with David Obey on his retirement]
*{{C-SPAN|1621}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States representatives from Wisconsin|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[Wisconsin's 7th congressional district]]|years=1969–2011}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Sean Duffy]]}}
|-
{{s-new|office}}
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{{s-non|reason=Position abolished}}
|-
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{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[United States House Committee on Appropriations|House Appropriations Committee]]|years=1994–1995}}
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{{s-ttl|title=Ranking Member of the [[United States House Committee on Appropriations|House Appropriations Committee]]|years=1995–2007}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jerry Lewis (California politician)|Jerry Lewis]]}}
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{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[United States House Committee on Appropriations|House Appropriations Committee]]|years=2007–2011}}
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{{s-ppo}}
{{s-new|office}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the Democratic House Accounts Task Force|years=1975–1976}}
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{{House Appropriations Chairmen}}
{{United States representatives from Wisconsin}}
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{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Obey, Dave}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature]]
[[Category:21st-century United States representatives]]
[[Category:21st-century Wisconsin politicians]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Okmulgee, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Politicians from Wausau, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Letters and Science alumni]]
[[Category:Writers from Wisconsin]]