(Washington, DC) – Today, Gephardt Government Affairs President & CEO Dick Gephardt announced that Former House Appropriations Committee Chairman Dave Obey will join the firm. As Senior Counsel to the firm, Mr. Obey will expand the firm’s expertise in health & education, energy, transportation, trade, defense and other issue areas.
In addition to his role at Gephardt Government Affairs, Mr. Obey has also accepted a position as a Senior Fellow at the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service, where he will be working with students to encourage participation in government and public policy issues.
Mr. Gephardt commented: "I could not be more thrilled to welcome Dave to the firm. He’s been a longtime friend and, as former Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, no one knows the federal government’s funding process better than he does. I’ve long admired his ability to negotiate, problem- solve and develop legislative strategy: he will be an incredible asset to our team."
As one of the most senior members of the Democratic Party, Mr. Obey served a total of 41 years in the House of Representatives, spanning the Administrations of nine U.S. presidents. He served on all three major economic committees: the Budget Committee, Joint Economic Committee, and, most significantly, as one of the longest-serving Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. Appointed to the Appropriations Committee during his first year in Congress in 1969, Mr. Obey went on to serve ten years as Chairman of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee and then as Chairman of the Labor, Health and Human Services Subcommittee. He was also elected to serve as Chairman of the full Appropriations Committee in 1994 and again from 2007 through 2010.
Tom O’Donnell, the firm's Managing Partner and Dick's longtime chief of staff said, "Dick’s unparalleled experience in the House Leadership is the perfect bookend to Dave’s experience on the Appropriations Committee. Dick’s ability to bring different faces to the table and negotiate compromise - and Dave’s ability to reach consensus across a broad spectrum of policy issues is unsurpassed. The two couldn’t be a stronger match."
Congressman Obey stated, "Dick Gephardt and Tom O’Donnell are the most able and decent people I’ve ever worked with in government. They have a tremendous capacity to talk to anyone, and more importantly, to listen to anyone. I look forward to joining the team."
###
Gephardt Government Affairs was founded in 2007 by former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and specializes in helping clients develop political and public policy strategies. Learn more about our team at: www.gephardtDC.com.
Breaux and Gephardt. Gerard and Maloney. Berman and Podesta. According to First Street, these were among the most powerful lobbyists in Washington this year.
...Tom O'Donnell, Gephardt Government Affairs Group. O'Donnell and his former Capitol Hill boss, ex-House Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt (Mo.), have done well since joining forces...
Read More
Gephardt's former chief of staff Tom O'Donnell talks to National Journal about post-debt ceiling debate prospects for bipartisanship.
Read More
Video: How Will FAA Crisis Affect You?
Watch Video
Debt-limit votes have been called the "burden of the majority" — an unpleasant chore that needed to be done by whichever party happens to be in power.
Read More
Christina Hamilton, Former Chief of Staff to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Dave Obey, will join the firm. As a Senior Vice President with the firm, Christina will support the firm’s health, energy, transportation, trade and appropriations clients.
Watch Video
Life on the outside after more than 41 years in Congress hasn’t been much different for former House Appropriations Chairman David Obey, D-Wis. — or so it seems.
Read More
Dick Gephardt participated in Vice President Joe Biden, Dr. Jill Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s welcoming lunch honoring Her Excellency Dr. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Watch Video
Gephardt Government Affairs President & CEO Dick Gephardt announced that Former House Appropriations Committee Chairman Dave Obey will join the firm.
Read More
"If there was a tough leadership assignment in the country right now, it would be this job — at the top of everybody's list," says former House majority leader Richard Gephardt, who first recommended Panetta to President Clinton as his budget director. Panetta later became White House chief of staff.
Read More
Dick comments on the "Gephardt rule" as the debt ceiling debate heats up.
Read More