WASHINGTON — The most prominent Republican in the Obama administration is accusing GOP House members of blocking efforts to resolve the nation's problems, partly because they don't want the president to be successful.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was asked at a transportation conference Friday why it was so difficult to get big infrastructure projects built right now.
He responded that "some people don't want Obama to be successful."
He said "a big percentage of the Republicans that were elected this time came here to do zero, and that's what they've done." LaHood says those lawmakers have obstructed other people who want to get things done.
LaHood said Thursday he will not serve beyond President Barack Obama's first term, according to the Chicago Tribune. He served in Congress for 14 years before joining Obama's cabinet. After the retirement of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on July 1, he remains the only Republican in the Obama cabinet.
The Huffington Post's Sam Stein interviewed LaHood last May. The transportation secretary expressed concern for bicyclist safety and praised the creation of bike lanes in cities. When asked whether he was a "hipster" for defending cyclist safety, he said, "I don't even know what that term means."
