Dave Obey Will Retire

The powerful, and senior, head of the House Appropriations Committee has announced that he will not stand for reelection.

Wisconsin's 7^th district has a D +3 PVI, so I think that its likely that the seat will remain in Democratic hands, but given the late date of this decision, it's likely that the party leaders in Madison, and the DCCC, and , of course, Rahm, will do their best to ensure that a squish will run.

It appears that the deaths of Charlie Wilson and John Murtha led him to make this decision.