Dave Obey
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.
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 Okmulgee, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Joan Obey |
| Education | University of Wisconsin, Madison (BS, MA) |
On May 5, 2010, Obey announced that he would not seek reelection to Congress in November 2010. He 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.