David Obey

David Obey represents Wisconsin's 7th district in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2007, Obey, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, came under fire for his refusal to deal with the issue of Congressional earmarks before considering appropriations for the Iraq War.

Obey was originally a Republican, but switched to the Democratic Party as a teenager. He earned a Bachelor's degree in political science and worked in real estate before beginning his political career in the Wisconsin State Assembly during the 1960s.

In 1969, Obey entered the U.S. House of Representatives via a special election after incumbent Melvin Laird was named Secretary of Defense. He is Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and a member of the Budget Committee and the Joint Economic Committee.

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