26 Facts About Dave Obey

David Ross Obey is an American lobbyist and former politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for from 1969 to 2011.

Dave Obey 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.

Dave Obey 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.

Dave Obey was born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, the son of Mary Jane and Orville John Dave Obey.

In 1941, his family moved back to his parents' native Wisconsin, and Dave Obey was raised in Wausau, Wisconsin, where he has lived since.

Dave Obey was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1963 and served there until 1969.

Dave Obey served in that role from 1967 until 1969, when he left the legislature to serve in the US House of Representatives.

Dave Obey was elected to a full term in 1970 and was reelected 18 times.

Dave 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, Dave Obey retained 60 percent of his former territory, and was handily reelected in subsequent contests.

In Congress, Dave Obey chaired the commission to write the House's Code of Ethics.

Dave 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.

Dave Obey was one of the most liberal members of the House; he considers himself a progressive in the tradition of Robert La Follette.

Dave Obey had risen to the position of fifth ranking House Democrat since his party retook control of Congress.

Dave Obey's "Obey Amendment" has prohibited the export of the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor to American allies such as Japan.

Dave Obey is remembered for being the congressman who intervened when fellow Democrat Harold Ford, Jr.

Dave 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.

On June 30,2010, Dave Obey proposed an amendment to a supplemental war spending bill that would allocate $10 billion to prevent expected teacher layoffs from school districts nationwide.

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

Dave Obey was expected to run in 2010, having raised a warchest of $1.4 million.

However, Dave 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.

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

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

Dave Obey was expected to run in 2010, having raised a warchest of $1.4 million.

However, Dave 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.

Dave Obey left Congress in January 2011, and was succeeded by Republican Sean Duffy.