All right all you Chicago guys and gals what is the scoop on how LaHood’s ideas on transportationare especially RR’s? Any statements on CREATE, Illinois AMTRAK service,? HSR?, NEC?, Long distance?, grade crossing elimination?, BRT?, Light Rail?, repairing AMTRAK rolling stock?, etc???
I haven’t seen much in the way of public statements from Mr. LaHood. However, his record on Amtrak is not very good–surprising. If he wanted a Republican, I would have liked to see Tommy Thompson in there. At least he had a track record (words used advisedly).
LaHood is not a Chicago Pol. He still represents (for a while) the 18th Illlinois Congressional District. This is a downstate area that includes Peoria, Pekin, Jacksonville, and touches on/includes parts of Springfield.
The only time I’ve heard him mention transportation was when he was talking about government making it hard on commercial enterprises. Star Trucking is HQ’s in his district and basically serves as a parts carrier for Caterpillar (also HQ’s in his district). He told of Star’s owner calling him up and saying “Hey, I’m looking at a bill from the government for $1,000,000.” They had raised some trucking fees and a trucker was exercising his right of b***hing.
I looked at his official web site. The only mention of anything related to transportation is his votes supporting Amtrak. Makes sense as the popular Illinois Amtrak service has routes through his district. Beyond that??? I hope he is a quick learn.
For those of us who missed it - and implied (but not expressly stated) here:
Ray LaHood is Barack Obama’s nominee-designate for the post of U.S. Secretary of Transportation.
From Progress Illinois:
Ray LaHood, a moderate Republican, has broken with his party over Amtrak funding, voting yes in summer, 2007 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 strong bi-partisan support. Other than that, we know very little.
But he not a huge Bladojevich fan.
Name ANYONE here in IL that likes Blagoelvich EXCEPT for the NEWS MEDIA anymore. His own other party leaders HATE him he got into a very public fight with his own Father in Law. The President Elecet is jumping thru fire hoops to get away from him. Heck about the only one that likes him right now is Fitzgerald the US Atty for the simple reason that he is going to be so easy to hang.
How about the 1.8 million voters who gave him their vote for re-election?
It’s a good story that is now playing well nationally – Chicago political slime on parade – and that’s why the media is covering it. No one is cutting him any slack.
You gotta remember when he was Stupidlly Relelected George Ryan was just getting ready to go on Trial Topinka was even WORSE THAN BLAGOELVICH WE THOUGHT SHE WAS ANYWAY. Now his true self has come out and he PERSONALLY HAS SUNK BOTH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND COOK COUNTY FROM BEING ABLE TO RUN IL for at least 20 years we are hoping downstate that being anywere south of I-294 and out of Cook and the Collar counties.
Ray LaHood is a friend of Baracks. That said, he’s going to follow the President’s thinking.
edbenton, you took the ever loving words right out of my own mouth…I voted for Blago so as to keep Topinka out of office (gravel voice and all), but now I am second guessing my vote, likely like the rest of the 1.8 million Illinoisans like me are doing right about now.
Gravel-voice vs. well-coiffed mophead.
I’ve known Judy Topinka personally for over 32 years and still call her a friend. She may be offbeat, but she’s honest, which is what counts in my book. With her as Guv, at least Illinois government wouldn’t be the circus it has turned into. She’d never be for sale.
While I don’t know this politician, I think I can say, All politicians are for sale. Name one politician that has not voted by where the money has come from to elect them! While many politicians have a good talk before they get elected, all of them will make a decision that is solely based on where the money came from to get them elected.
Topinka was my state senator when I lived in Downers Grove. I had one interaction with her.
I have refused to vote for her ever since. In the last gubinatorial election I simply did not vote for either candidate. I think my decision will turn out well. She’s not governor and Blagdo is going to prison.
Would like to hear what people have to say about LaHood. He sounds like he is is own man. He was one of three republicans who did not sign onto Newt Gingriches “Contract with America”.
Rgds IGN
How many politicians do you know personally to make such a sweeping, foolish statement?
Too answer you question, I name U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald (R-Ill.), who brought U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald to Illinois to root out corruption. Pete spent 100 percent of his own money on his campaign. He was as unpopular with Republicans as he was with Democrats because he refused to play the game. But he was honest to the core.
I can name many, many more.
Obama did the smart thing. All credit to him. He picked a pro-public transit pro-rail Republican who can build Republican support for a Democratic initiative.
I think you hit the nail on the head.It’s not going to be a popular job in any event.
Al - in - Stockton
Everybody Loves Ray.
LaHood was interviewed back in 2007 on Brian Lamb’s Sun eve program on CSPAN. I recall watching it and I believe the only comments on transportation he made referred to airport security and highways w/ nothing at all concerning rail transport.