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June 29, 2006
Wisconsin congressman David Obey talks the talk on mmj in Hinchey debate
Posted by Gary Storck
Thursday, June 29, 2006
I've criticized Rep. David Obey (D-Wausau) in the past for his lackluster support for medical marijuana, but he definitely redeemed himself big time on Wednesday June 27 during debate in the U.S. House of Representatives on the Hinchey-Rohrabacher budget amendment. The amendment, first attempted in 2003, seeks to prohibit the use of federal funds to target medical marijuana patients in states that have legalized the option. Although the amendment lost 163-259, it gained two votes over last year's total. You can read the roll call by clicking here. Hopefully, thee will be some changes this November so next year this amendment can reach the 218 vote threshold it needs to pass.
As in prior years, all four Wisconsin Republicans: Reps. F. James Sensenbrenner, Paul Ryan, Thomas Petri and 2006 GOP candidate for governor Mark Green voted to continue to use tax dollars to arrest the sick and dying, while Obey was joined by Reps. Tammy Baldwin, Gwen Moore and Ron Kind. Of the four, only Baldwin has sponsored Barney Frank's States Rights to Medical Marijuana Act each session. Obey's statement from the debate appears below:
"If I am terminally ill, it is not anybody's business on this floor how I handle the pain or the illness or the sickness associated with that illness. With all due respect to all of you, butt out. I did not enter this world with the permission of the Justice Department, and I am certainly not going to depart it by seeking their permission or that of any other authority. The Congress has no business telling people that they cannot manage their illness or their pain any way they need to. I would trust any doctor in the country before I trust some of the daffy ducks in this institution to decide what I am supposed to do if I am terminally ill… When is this Congress going to recognize that individuals in their private lives have a right to manage their problems as they see fit without the permission of the big guy in the White House or the big guy in the Justice Department or any of the Lilliputians on this Congressional floor? Wake up!"
Posted by Gary at June 29, 2006 03:33 PM
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