Representative David Obey (D-WI) will announce this afternoon that he will retire at the end of this session of Congress according to Congress Daily (subscription required). Obey is one of the most powerful men in Congress as chair of the House Appropriations Committee. A liberal, he is not viewed as a fan of NASA space programs, but it is far too early to tell how much of a difference it might make to the agency to have someone else in that position. No rumors yet on who it will be, and, of course, the November elections first must determine whether Democrats retain control of the House.