Peoria Pundit

I rather doubted that the Obama administration would play hardball with union government employees. So I guess I ought to be not surprised about this exchange captured in the New York Times’ article on today’s Ray LaHood confirmation hearings:

Mr. LaHood, in his testimony, made several important points. When Mr. Rockefeller asked about modernizing the air traffic control system, Mr. LaHood said his top priority was making labor peace with the controllers. He said he wanted the system run by people who “like going to work every day.”

The Bush administration imposed a contract on the controllers that eliminated some pay increases, required them to spend more hours at their work stations and made other changes. After the contract went into effect, many of those who were eligible for retirement left their jobs sooner than the agency had planned.

What say you, Peoria-area union members? Was LaHood pro union as a Congressman? Anti-union? Or was it sort of a wash? Give examples please.

Remember the 1980s? Reagan fired the air traffic controllers, setting the tone for the GOP’s attitude toward organized labor for the next 28 years. A Democrat held the White House for only eight of those years, and the Clintons had their noses buried to far up Wal-Mart’s butt to be considered really pro labor.

The combination of Obama int he White House and Democrats controlling Congress might, just might, bring about a more balanced relationship between labor and management, but labor has to make might like Hell to make sure the Dems don’t backslide, as they tend to do once they get in office.

Hugh Bartling has some questions for Congressman Ray:

The postponment comes on the heels of a story published in the Washington Post about LaHood’s penhcant for inserting earmark spending into appropriation bills as a member of the House of Representatives–including $9 million that was funneled to campaign donors. Obama has said that he opposes earmarks, so expect some tough questioning of LaHood on this front.

I am especially interested in his ties to William Cellini, the indicted head of the Illinois Asphault Paving Association, who acted to shakedown donors for disgraced Governor Rod Blagojevich. Many of LaHood’s earmarks were paving projects that would benefit Cellini’s members.

LaHood should also be asked about his failure to support the National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act which was passed after the tragic bridge collapse in Minnesota to improve bridge safety.

Too bad no one at the Journal Star demanded answers to these questions before President-elect Obama decided to make him the Secretary of Transportation. Of course it would have been nice if the Dems had ever bothered to run anyone with a change of winning in the 18th District. But I like to see contests for high offices, because the process tends to shake loose this sort of information.

Because right now, all over central Illinois, loyal LaHood voters are discovering that Congressman LaHood, while nowhere near as corrupt as many in Illinois, isn’t exactly a virgin either. And I am still waiting for the guy to admit to ANYONE that the nuclear power industry paid for his trip to France.

Ray LaHood spend his entire Congressional career getting dissed by conservatives who complained he was a RINO — a Republican in Name Only. It’s a complaint based on arrogance and ignorance. First, it assumes that only conservatives can be real Republicans and completely ignores the party’s origin as an pro-labor anti-slavery party. But why waste time trying to teach right-wingers anything.

LaHood — who despite other problems I have with him — earned my respect for being willing to fight to keep the state party out of the hands of the right wingers, and for being willing to tell the president things his handlers didn’t want to hear.*

His opposition to the far right hasn’t earned him any slack from the left, however. Consider the following, which first appeared on the site Worldchanging:

… his appointment is a profoundly uninspiring vote for business as usual at a time when we need change, and an strong indication that the administration doesn’t get that energy policy, technological innovation, urban planning, environmental sustainability and transportation are all bound up together, and no solution to our problems can be had without tackling them all together.

LaHood’s appointment is so disappointing to transportation advocates who’ve been waiting eight years for change, that they’re boiling with indignant disbelief, branding him “an unbelievably disastrous pick,” “Status quo we can believe in” and “same.gov” (a dig at the Obama transition site, change.gov). As one insider summed it up: “It’s a real read-it-and-weep moment.”

And the article goes on for many more words describing how we need more public transportation, not new infrastructure. There’s a lot of it I agree with. I’ve love to see a ton of money going into public transportation. But I also know that the infrastructure needs some work, and THAT is a legitimate function of government. And I’m worried that too many of the “shovel ready” projects being discussed are more about spreading the wealth around than essential services.

But methinks the writer isn’t really getting it. Yeah, LaHood has little administrative experience. But cabinet secretaries really aren’t managers. They are politicians. Their are figureheads. Once the appointment has been made, half the work is done.

LaHood’s role probably isn’t going to setting policy so much as it is to get the bills through Congress. And as a former member of the Appropriation’s committee, he knows how to get bills through the system.

No, that’s not exactly “change.” But it is how things get done. Barack Obama knew then when he appointed LaHood.

* I’ll have links up as soon as my other site is back up.

Chicago Tribune political curmudgeon John Kass Kass doesn’t think too highly of Congressman Ray:

Mr. Kass, re: Gov. Big Hairovich, this may be premature, but do you think it would be useful to begin pondering publicly who can be trusted as governor? Maybe someone outside of Chicago? Or is that a fantasy? Joe M., Belleville

Dear Joe—It’s not premature, not with all the sleaze in this state. If the candidate is a Democrat from Illinois, they’ll be on bended knee to Mayor Shortshanks at Chicago’s City Hall or House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Lisa’s Daddy) or State Sen. James DeLeo (D-How You Doin?). And if they’re Republican, they’ll bow to the indicted party boss Big Bill Cellini or his enabler, Big Jim Thompson, or the Republican establishment that dares criticize President-elect Barack Obama for his connections to sleazy politics, yet applauds Obama’s appointment of a Cellini guy, U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Combine) as secretary of transportation. [emphasis mine] That’s change we can believe in. How about we ban all current Illinois politicians from the list of prospective governors? There must be someone other than U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald who has served the public interest without picking the public pocket. We need Fitzgerald where he is, in Chicago. But are there any others who’ve fought Illinois political corruption and the Chicago Outfit and who’d be interested in running for office? There might be one out there.

Cellini’s name has popped up on occasion in the pages of Peoria Pundit. One of the complaints I’ve had about the local media is how it perpetrated the folksy “Congressman Ray” image, while pretty ignoring his connections to some of the corrupt politicians that big city newspapers were hammering away at on an almost daily basis. Kass goes overboard sometimes, but he has a point.

So if you’re shocked to see “Congressman Ray” described as a “Cellini guy,” blame the local news media.

For an education, read the Sun-Times article on Cellini.

[Press Release]

AARON SCHOCK: LaHOOD A BRILLIANT CHOICE

(WASHINGTON, DC) Congressman-elect Aaron Schock today called President-elect Barack Obama’s choice of Congressman Ray LaHood to be his Secretary of Transportation a “brilliant choice.”

“Ray’s track record of bi-partisanship is a perfect fit for a position that will be charged with developing one of the most important pieces of legislation next year—the upcoming five-year transportation funding bill,” said Schock. “Who better than Ray LaHood who served for six years on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and has deep insights regarding the need to upgrade our nation’s infrastructure.”

The upcoming five-year transportation and infrastructure bill is due for authorization next year and President-elect Obama has expressed his intention to use it as a crucial legislative vehicle to stimulate the economy. Therefore, the position of Secretary of Transportation is more important than ever.

“Ray LaHood is also supremely positioned to help guide this major bill through Congressional passage due to his long standing bi-partisan approach and the respect he commands on both sides of the aisle,” said Schock. “Ray LaHood’s ability to bridge divides is the best in Washington. I am convinced that President-elect Obama will be pleased with his Secretary of Transportation’s ability to get things done.”

“I am excited to know that the people and their infrastructure needs here in Illinois and the 18th District of Illinois will have another voice advocating for us in Washington, DC. and I cannot wait to work with Ray LaHood in his well deserved new capacity,” concluded Schock.

With talk of stripping away Blago’s power to name a new U.S. senator, it seems likely there will be a special election, with party primaries on Feb. 24 and a special general election on April 7 (coinciding with local municipal elections).

And as is usually the case, Ray LaHood gets a nod in this Washington Post’s list of possible candidates:

LaHood, who is leaving Congress after seven terms, always seems to be in the mix for statewide races. But, smart Illinois Republicans don’t see him actually pulling the trigger this time around.

I don’t see it either.

I’d suggest that Aaron Schock might toss his hat in the ring, but he doesn’t meet the age requirement.

NewsMax is reporting on a Zogby poll commissioned by Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. to measure his  electability should he be appointed to replace President-elect Obama in the Senate. The results:

In two prospective Senate races, Jackson would defeat Republican Congressman Ray LaHood by a 50% to 31% margin, the survey shows. Among the 15% who were not certain about whom they would support, nearly two said they were leaning toward Jackson for every one that was leaning toward supporting LaHood.

My two cents: Really? I’ve heard LaHood mentioned as a candidate for governor. This is the first mention I’ve heard that he might run for Senate.

Not that it matters much. The Republican Party is divided into two camps: Conservatives who blame moderates for the party’s dismal record of late, and moderates who blame conservatives for the party’s dismal record of late. They are both convinced they are absolutely right.

And until they get their act together, the Democrats will continue to whoop GOP butt.

Still, whoever Gov. Blagojevich appoints will have to run for re-election in 2010, and Obama won’t be at the top of the ticket, which means no Obama Effect.

Springfield State Journal Register columnist Bernie Schoenburg writes:

A few weeks ago, I had back-to-back telephone conversations with U.S. Rep. RAY LaHOOD, R-Peoria, and state Rep. Aaron Schock, another Peoria Republican who LaHood wants to be his successor in Congress.

Those conversations were odd because LaHood told me he had called Schock to recommend that Schock reimburse the city of Peoria for expenses surrounding a fundraising visit from President GEORGE W. BUSH. Schock, however, told me LaHood had told him not to pay. Schock said he later decided otherwise.

Schoenburg later asked LaHood about the contradiction:

“I had a conversation with him,” LaHood said. “And we talked about it. I gave him some advice.”

What advice?

“I told you what advice,” LaHood said. “He has a different recollection of it.”

I suggest that Schock try really had to avoid this sort of thing should he win election to Congress. The reporters in Washington are like hungry pit bulls on a chihuahua if they suspect they’ve caught a Congressman being inconsistent.

If Colleen Callahan does what you request and stops running that ad that says all those nice things about you, will you return all that cash she helped raise for you at that fundraiser she hosted in her home several years ago?

Just asking.

And I recall the last time Ray LaHood laid down the law about invoking his name. And then there’s that upstart candidate who POed Congressman Ray because he wasn’t following the rules.

(press release)

CALLING HER A PIONEER IN PROVIDING HEALTH CARE IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS, CONGRESSMAN RAY LAHOOD ENDORSES JOAN KRUPA FOR 92ND DISTRICT STATE REP AT A NEWS CONFERENCE SATURDAY

Congressman LaHood detailed his working relationship with Krupa as CEO of Heartland Community Health Care Clinic and their collaboration of efforts to expand the clinic to six sites now serving 18,000 patients

(PEORIA) Congressman Ray LaHood spelled out his reasons for endorsing Joan Krupa for State Representative in the 92nd District at a news conference in front of the Heartland Community Health Care Clinic on Peoria’s East Bluff, a project they worked on together to create.

LaHood lauded Krupa’s passion for providing health care to the area’s uninsured and under-insured people who otherwise would not have received needed health care.

LaHood noted that when Krupa became CEO of the Heartland Community Health Care Clinic it served 850 patients at one clinic. Krupa expanded that to six sites on Peoria’s Southside and East Bluff which now serves 18,000 patients.

LaHood said the Illinois Legislature needs an expert in health care delivery to disadvantaged people and that Krupa fits the bill because she has been a pioneer in expanding health care to thousands of needy area residents.

LaHood also said Krupa was successful in vastly expanding health care access because of her foresight to change the business model of the Heartland Clinic to a federally approved community healthcare center.

“Joan Krupa was relentless in her efforts to improve and expand the Heartland Health Care Clinic and that was fueled by her passion for providing health care to people without the insurance they need,” said LaHood.

LaHood also stressed that Krupa is the right type of person to represent the 92nd District because she has demonstrated how well she has worked in a bi-partisan way to accomplish something great for people in need.

Krupa said Ray LaHood is a role model for her as a public servant because he has demonstrated time and again how well he works across the aisle to get things done.

Krupa noted that in addition to Congressman LaHood, she worked with Senator Dick Durbin, former State Senator George Shadid, State Senator Dave Koehler, and State Representatives David Leitch and Aaron Schock to expand the Heartland Clinic. Krupa said the success in expanding the Heartland Clinic was because of bi-partisan collaboration and would not have been possible without it, an attitude she intends to take to Springfield to reform the broken system in Illinois government.

Krupa said as a State Representative that she intended to be a force to protect the State funding portion that allows community health care clinics to operate.

“As your representative I will implore my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to protect funding for community health care clinics so this vital funding doesn’t go the way of funding for state parks due to the dysfunction in Springfield,” said Krupa. “I will bring patients from the Heartland Clinic down to Springfield if need be to testify to my colleagues to prevent any loss of funding for these crucial clinics that are the only way thousands of people are kept from falling through the cracks in our society.”