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  • Press Release
    August 29, 2005

    State and Local Bar Associations Honor Congressman Obey

    For Immediate Release

    CONTACT: Cathleen Dettmann
    State Bar of Wisconsin
    (800) 444-9404, ext. 6045
    cdettmann@wisbar.org

    State and Local Bar Associations Honor Congressman Obey: A Longtime Friend of Civil Legal Services for the Poor

    State Bar President D.   Michael Guerin presented a resolution recognizing Congressman Obey's   vital efforts in funding for civil legal services
    State Bar President D. Michael Guerin presented a resolution recognizing Congressman Obey’s vital efforts in funding for civil legal services

    MADISON, August 29, 2005 - The State Bar of Wisconsin and the Marathon County Bar Association honored Congressman David R. Obey in Wausau on Thursday, in recognition of his long-time support for funding for civil legal services. State Bar President D. Michael Guerin presented a resolution adopted by the Sate Bar’s Board of Governors recognizing Congressman Obey’s vital efforts in this area.

    The event highlighted Congressman Obey’s work to increase federal funding for programs that meet the legal needs of disadvantaged Wisconsin citizens at a time when those programs were facing potentially severe funding cuts tied to changes in the 2000 federal census.

    Congressman Obey’s impassioned, bipartisan advocacy on this issue resulted in a critical increase in funding for the federal Legal Services Corporation that prevented drastic funding cuts in Wisconsin and 25 other states.

    Without Congressman Obey’s efforts, Wisconsin programs that provide legal services to the poor would have faced sudden, drastic cuts in 2003, topping $700,000, or nearly 15% of their total funding. This would have been a devastating loss for Wisconsin’s low-income citizens. Wisconsin programs, such as the Wausau-based Judicare program, would have been forced to turn away many clients with pressing legal needs from vital legal assistance for which they are eligible under federal law.

    As always, Congressman Obey stepped into the breach to advocate in Congress on behalf of the Wisconsin’s most needy. In the face of strong budget cutting pressures, he fought in the U.S. House of Representatives to increase federal funding by $19 million; an amount intended to prevent drastic funding cuts to legal aid programs serving Wisconsin and 25 other states. Congressman Obey and others continued to fight to ensure that half of that amount, $9.5 million, was included in the final version of the FY 2003 appropriations bill approved by both houses of Congress.

    Congressman Obey’s continued and tireless commitment resulted in dramatically reducing these cuts and preserving funding for Wisconsin Judicare, Inc., in northern Wisconsin, and Legal Action of Wisconsin, elsewhere in our state and for similar programs in 25 other states.

    The State Bar of Wisconsin is the mandatory professional association, created by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, for attorneys who hold a law license in Wisconsin. With more than 20,000 members, the State Bar aids the courts in improving the administration of justice, provides continuing legal education for its members, and assists Wisconsin lawyers in carrying out initiatives to educate the public about the legal system.



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