Officials

     Seventh District Congressman Dave Obey (D-WI) said today that “like most Americans, I’m mad as hell that the reckless deregulatory binge of the last decade has led us to the point we find ourselves in today, but I reluctantly supported the financial rescue package that’s before Congress because it contains provisions that offer more protections to the taxpayers than the President’s original proposal and the alternative of doing nothing will put the economic security of virtually every American family and business at unnecessary risk.”

     Seventh District Congressman Dave Obey made the following statement on the House Floor this evening on the Main Street Stimulus package he authored.

     The House passed the package by a vote of 264 to 158.

Measure Intended to Help American FamiliesCope With Economic Turmoil

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     Seventh District Congressman Dave Obey (D-WI), the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, today introduced an economic stimulus package designed to encourage economic growth and help Main Street America deal with the economic turmoil.

     The Town of La Pointe and Ashland County will soon be able to provide bicyclists with safer passage of County Highway H into Big Bay State Park as a result of a $608,800 Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) grant, State Senator Bob Jauch (D-Poplar) and State Representative Gary Sherman (D-Port Wing) said today in a meeting with local officials to discuss the project.

     To help end unfair and abusive practices by credit card companies, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights today. Seventh District Congressman Dave Obey (D-WI) was a cosponsor of the consumer protection measure.

     Seventh District Congressman Dave Obey (D-WI) voted today to provide Congressional approval of the Great Lakes Compact. With today’s approval by the House, the interstate compact, which has already been ratified by all eight Great Lakes states and approved by the U.S. Senate, must now be signed into law by the President before it can take full effect.

     Seventh District Congressman Dave Obey (D-WI) announced today that he is now accepting applications from those interested in competing for a nomination to one of the United States military academies for the class of 2013. The deadline for applying is November 15, 2008.

     Gary Sherman (D - Port Wing) was gratified upon learning that at least one school in each of the 12 school districts in the 74th Assembly District were named as Wisconsin Promise Schools of Recognition by the Department of Public Instruction in its announcement Tuesday. Many of those districts had two or more of their schools recognized, and a number of them have made the list five or more years in a row.

      The number one problem facing the country is the economy, Seventh District Congressman Dave Obey (D-WI) said while in the area today. Obey made several appearances in Polk and Burnett County, including a discussion with constituents at the Country Café in Grantsburg, an up-close look at the new community Library in Frederic, and a visit with his old friend Harvey Stower in Amery.