Obey and Oberstar have become important allies over the years as two of the longest-serving members of this Congress from the Midwest. Obey also chairs the House Appropriations committee, a body which proved critical to Oberstar's success procuring hundreds of millions of dollars in projects for northern Minneosta.
"We've lost a great asset for America: a thinker, a doer, a mover, a shaker both in Wisconsin, for Northeast Minnesota, for the country at large," Oberstar, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said in an audio statement. "And personally, he's just a good, dear trusted reliable friend."
