Rep. David Obey to Retire

Updated at 1:40 p.m. ET

Rep. David Obey, a leading liberal Democrat and chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, says he intends to retire at the end of his term this year.

The Wisconsin lawmaker made the surprise announcement at a Capitol Hill news conference Wednesday.

Obey said, "There is a time to stay and a time to go. And this is my time to go."

His decision is another blow to Democrats defending their majority in an election season of voter discontent.

Obey, 71, won the first of 21 terms in 1969 — when a special election was held after President Richard Nixon tapped Melvin Laird to be his defense secretary. He faced a potentially bruising re-election campaign this fall.

Obey first became chairman of the Appropriations Committee in 1994.