Ray LaHood: Obama's Transportation Secretary

The Chicago Tribune, along with other news organizations, reports:

Peoria Republican congressman Ray LaHood has been asked to be Transportation Secretary for the Obama Administration, a Republican source said today.

A spokesman for the Obama transition team declined to comment and LaHood's office did not immediately return phone calls.

But associates of LaHood previously had been told that he was a "front-runner" for the post and that he was was "interested."

Progress Illinois gives a good rundown of LaHood's record:

The moderate Republican has broken with his party over Amtrak funding, voting yes last summer to expand passenger rail service. In 2005, he told the Peoria Journal-Star that "we've got a good Amtrak system in Illinois and I don't think we want to destroy it by talking about privatization." In 2006, he received a 66 percent rating from the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, a major transportation construction lobby. He also voted in favor of the Saving Energy Through Public Transportation Act of 2008, a bill to promote increased public transportation use that garnered string bi-partisan support. Other than that, we know very little.

Ray LaHood's website is here. You can read more about LaHood on Wikipedia. Project Vote Smart has more on the future Transportation Secretary's record. The Washington Post has Ray LaHood's full voting history.

Comments

[PSTEN]

10:04 AM on 12/19/2008

Ray Lahood is a good representative here in ILLinois. Very honest and has stated that he has declined running for his post again because of the partisan divide in Washington. He is one of the good republicans who have left Washington because of the Right Wing influence and was sick of the deallock. This is a good move on Obama's part. Hope he accepts the appointment.

[skonersmcvp]

12:12 AM on 12/20/2008

This is the kind of people that we need in Washington and stop the bleeding. If we want to pull out of this mess we need to have sound thinking people that represent the people for a change. Mr. laHood's record speaks for it self. I live in Las Vegas and I am glad Obamma made a choice that could make him popular with my party. Thank you Senator LaHood for realizing that you represent the common man.

[Groundhogcat]

11:24 AM on 12/18/2008

Ray LaHood is my Representative. When he was asked about the potential reopening of the Amtrak station in Peoria, he said that people in Peoria could take the bus Bloomington and catch Amtrak train in Bloomington. The cost of a one way trip from Peoria to Bloomington is $17.00! He didn't seem to be public transportation friendly to me after he made that statement.

Still, LaHood is a honest man, and I've always been able to speak to him when I needed to.

I'm not thrilled by LaHood's appointment , but maybe LaHood will work out as Transportation Secretary.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

10:47 PM on 12/18/2008

Anyone pro mass transit is good with me.

[hjames1908]

08:00 AM on 12/18/2008

I'm lost on this one. Is this a bow to the Arab community because he is of Lebanese decent? In all honesty, other than an occasional drive from Peoria to Pekin I can't imagine what this guy knows about transportation.

Has O stumbled?

[Groundhogcat]

11:33 AM on 12/18/2008

If LaHood's appointment was a bow to the Arab community, then it was a bow to the Catholic -Arab community.

[theone718]

10:11 PM on 12/17/2008

He doesn't seem incredibly qualified for the position like someone such as.......... Obama's head of the HUD. Donovan has extensively done his research on everything about housing, down to the wiring. These are the definition of "the best people for the job" I don't know too much about LaHood so once the info comes out we will see why he was chosen.

[lemekid]

09:48 PM on 12/17/2008

As a foreigner but supporter of Barack Obama, I find it strange that people are attacking Obama's choices for cabinet left right and centre. What should matter to the people who have supported Obama this far is that he is still at the top. He will have the final say in all decisions made that will impact American lives.

C'mon folks, give Obama his chance to show his leadership potential. He has shown it in the primaries and the general election. I'm sure people will see his leadership qualities once he becomes the US pres after the inauguration and beyond.

[Totto]

12:17 AM on 12/18/2008

I hope Mr. LaHood spends some time in Europe and Asia looking at and riding high-speed rail. The US needs an alternative to air travel and a comprehensive rail system ought to be started now. It's time we joined the rest of the industrialized world.

[neorealist234]

05:51 PM on 12/17/2008

Ray Lahood and his large constituency at Caterpillar will be a rock solid appointment considering Obama's overhaul of US infrastructure....which is shaping up to be the largest investment in US infrastructure since the Eisenhower admin

[PatCroft]

05:38 PM on 12/17/2008

Well this is not very forward stepping! All of these GOP thugs want to privatize and usher in the age of the toll roads on all of our highways, set from their forceful dismantling the rail systems. We might need a revolution after all.

[rockerdelight]

05:44 PM on 12/17/2008

He voted AGAINST privatization not for..

[vjoseph]

06:17 PM on 12/17/2008

It's sad that you can't read

[oracleoflosangeles]

09:16 PM on 12/17/2008

This comment made my day. thanks for the laugh.

[Mando78]

05:32 PM on 12/17/2008

As I'm from Illinois and work in Peoria having grown up ten minutes outside of the city, I can say he has been a moderate. I've written him letters in the past regarding environmental and ethics issues -- he's taken the time to actually write me a letter that was 3 pages long outlining his position and the basis for his opinions. He's a good man and he's honest. He also came out right away when Palin started with the divisive speeches questioning Obama's integrity without regard to what his party would say. Rod is not the be all and end all of Illinois politics -- take a look at people like Lisa Madigan. All of these generalizations and snap judgments should be left to the neo cons. We liberals are supposed to be open minded.

[slkipp]

05:26 PM on 12/17/2008

He is part of the Republican union busting house. He voted to allow FAA to impose a contract on NATCA. Bad choice.....

[yamahagrand]

05:38 PM on 12/17/2008

I'm an FAA PASS member and this concerns me deeply. Obama made some promises that I hope he delivers on. We do NOT another union buster running the show. The joint is in shambles the way it is now.

[slkipp]

06:51 PM on 12/17/2008

We need Jane Garvey at FAA. And a Pro Labor person at Dept of Labor

[Janet Carter]

05:20 PM on 12/17/2008

Is it me, or do all the white male politicians in Illinois look like Mafia? Seriously.

[SwingVoter]

05:25 PM on 12/17/2008

What does "Mafia" looks like? Pics?

[illville latino]

07:42 PM on 12/17/2008

It's you.

[indabush]

05:19 PM on 12/17/2008

WHAT IS WRONG WITH SOME OF YOU PEOPLE?

Every constituency wants representation commensurate with their voting in the election, and if you don't get it, you bi//ch. Is there ANYTHING PE Obama does that will satisfy you? The man isn't in office yet but you all demanding.

64% hispanics voted for him - does that mean his cabinet should reflect that percentage?
54% women voted for him - should he populate his cabinet with a similar block?
70% of jews voted for him - how is he going to fit them in?
98% black americans voted him in - where does that leave the rest of the groups?

Comeon people - relax. I realize that after the last 8 years you're all hoping for immediate course realignment, but give the man a chance.

[bubbuh]

05:17 PM on 12/17/2008

Gosh. I saw him in the Metro and thought he was a mugger

[anghiari]

12:21 AM on 12/18/2008

bubbuh...did someone kiss you on the neck? It looks kinda red?

[mikep007]

05:16 PM on 12/17/2008

Didn't see this coming. I figured the two Republicans he would have hired were Jim Leach and Chuck Hagel.

[bdl0715]

05:10 PM on 12/17/2008

Ray LaHood will be ok in Transportation. He is my Congressman now that I no longer live in Chicago and when I asked him why he did not support impeachment of W and Dick, he said he didn't see that they did anything wrong.

[bluehaze]

05:33 PM on 12/17/2008

I guess admitting to torture on ABC is Ok huh? If this is how he thinks than he won't be ok.

[salsmom]

05:04 PM on 12/17/2008

Let's hope that he entertains reviewing hi-speed passenger rail system as an alternative to airline travel and a means of dealing with alternative energy systems for transportation.

[bubbuh]

05:19 PM on 12/17/2008

Can you imagine everyone getting on a train taking off their shoes?