Raising Hell for Justice : The Washington Battles of a Heartland Progressive

David Obey has in his nearly forty years in the U.S. House of Representatives worked to bring economic and social justice to America’s working families. In 2007 he assumed the chair of the Appropriations Committee and is positioned to pursue his priority concerns for affordable health care, education, environmental protection, and a foreign policy consistent with American democratic ideals. Here, in his autobiography, Obey looks back on his journey in politics beginning with his early years in the Wisconsin Legislature, when Wisconsin moved through eras of shifting balance between Republicans and Democrats. On a national level Obey traces, as few others have done, the dramatic changes in the workings of the U.S. Congress since his first election to the House in 1969. He discusses his own central role in the evolution of Congress and ethics reforms and his view of the recent Bush presidency—crucial chapters in our democracy, of interest to all who observe politics and modern U.S. history. Best Books for Regional General Audiences, selected by the American Association of School Librarians, and Best Books for General Audiences, selected by the Public Library Association Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Prologue......Page 16 Part 1. Foundation Years......Page 20 1. Roots......Page 22 2. College Years......Page 40 Part 2. The Other End of State Street......Page 68 3. Political Baptism......Page 70 4. Learning State Government......Page 92 5. “You’re Going to Congress”......Page 109 Part 3. One of 435: Years of Learning......Page 130 6. New Kid on the Block......Page 132 7. Digging in for the Long Haul......Page 147 8. Alvin......Page 154 9. Pushing for Change......Page 162 10. Nixon Goes......Page 176 11. New Job, New Rules, New Enemies......Page 183 12. Life with Jimmy......Page 195 Part 4. Years of Responsibility......Page 226 13. Fighting Reaganomics......Page 228 14. Two New Jobs, One Secret War......Page 241 15. Working with Bush I......Page 258 16. Poison in the House, Poison at Home......Page 286 17. The Clinton Clean Up Brigade......Page 298 18. The Chairmanship......Page 305 Part 5. Priorities and Presidents......Page 314 19. Gingrich Takes Over......Page 316 20. Impeachment Again......Page 328 21. In the Trenches with Clinton......Page 334 22. Bush II......Page 342 23. 9/11: The World Changes......Page 345 24. Misled into War......Page 360 Part 6. Other Battles......Page 370 25. Hell-Bent on Deregulation......Page 372 26. Environment under Assault......Page 376 27. Limiting Money in Politics......Page 385 Part 7. Summing Up......Page 392 28. Presidents......Page 394 29. Values......Page 403 Epilogue......Page 420 Index......Page 426 "David Obey has in his nearly forty years in the U.S. House of Representatives worked to bring economic and social justice to America's working families. In 2007 he assumed the chair of the Appropriations Committee and is positioned to pursue his priority concerns for affordable health care, education, environmental protection, and a foreign policy consistent with American democratic ideals." "Here, in his autobiography, Obey looks back on his journey in politics beginning with his early years in the Wisconsin Legislature, when Wisconsin moved through eras of shifting balance between Republicans and Democrats. On a national level Obey traces the dramatic changes in the workings of the U.S. Congress since his first election to the House in 1969. And he discusses his own central role in the evolution of Congress and ethics reforms and his view of the recent Bush presidency - crucial chapters in our democracy, of interest to all who observe politics and modern U.S. history."--Jacket The memoirs of the Wisconsin Democrat and chair of the House Appropriations Committee describes Obey's nearly forty years in the U.S. House of Representatives, his political odyssey from Wisconsin to Washington, his role in the changing face of Congress and ethics reforms, and his thoughts on the Bush administration, foreign policy, social justice, education, and the environment.