Dave Obey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Dave Obey | |
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Wisconsin's 7th district |
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1969–present |
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| Preceded by: | Mel Laird |
| Succeeded by: | Incumbent |
| Religion | {{{religion}}} |
| Born: | October 3, 1938 Okmulgee, Oklahoma |
| Spouse: | Joan Obey |
David Ross "Dave" Obey (pronounced Obie) (born October 3, 1938) is an American politician. He has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1969, representing the Seventh Congressional District of Wisconsin (map).
Obey was born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, and grew up in Wausau, Wisconsin, where he graduated from Wausau High School. He received his bachelors degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin. Before serving in Congress, Obey worked as a real estate broker.
Obey was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1963 and served there until 1969, when he was elected to the House to replace Melvin R. Laird, who was appointed Secretary of Defense under President Richard Nixon. Obey, only 30 when he was appointed, became the youngest member of Congress upon taking his seat. He is now the third-longest serving Democrat in the House, after John Dingell and John Conyers.
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 is the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee and, following the Democrats' electoral victory on November 7, 2006, will assume the chairmanship of that committee.
[edit] Trivia
In addition to serving in Congress, Obey is an avid musician and has played harmonica on three bluegrass albums recorded with his band, the Capitol Offenses.
Obey also is remembered for being the Congressman who intervened when Harold Ford Jr. approached Jean Schmidt on the House floor in 2005. Ford was upset because Schmidt had called Congressman (and decorated former Marine) John Murtha a coward.
[edit] External links
- Official website
- Democratic Party of Wisconsin profile
- Voting record maintained by the Washington Post
| Preceded by: Melvin R. Laird |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 7th congressional district 1969 – present |
Incumbent |
| Wisconsin's current delegation to the United States Congress |
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| Senators: Herbert Kohl (D), Russ Feingold (D)
Representative(s): Paul Ryan (R), Tammy Baldwin (D), Ron Kind (D), Gwen Moore (D), Jim Sensenbrenner (R), Thomas E. Petri (R), David R. Obey (D), Mark Green (R) All delegations: Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming — American Samoa • District of Columbia • Guam • Puerto Rico • U.S. Virgin Islands |
