Car rebates: Populist stimulus or clunker? Aug 5, 2009
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Sunday the government would release electronic records about the program, and President Barack Obama has pledged greater transparency for his administration ... Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the popular program has allowed thousands of Americans to buy a new car at time when the economy is still in a recession and needs a boost in consumer spending. (Fresno Bee -- Local)
Car dealers caught short by Cash for Clunkers plan Aug 4, 2009
Then after the program was operating for only four days last week the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Friday confirmed rumors that his department was running out of money that was supposed to last until Nov. 1 or until the 1 billion appropriated was exhausted. Although the U.S. House Friday approved the extra 2 billion by a vote of 316-109, no action on the appropriation for the program has been taken by the U.S. Senate. (Fulton Sun, MO)
Is price finally right for expanded rail? Jul 27, 2009
The Chicago-based Midwest rail hub is considered to be in a good position to receive passenger rail funds because of the multi-state effort -- including financial participation by Iowa and other states -- and the fact the President Barack Obama and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood both are former Illinois congressmen. That's good news to Dick Welch of Swisher, Iowa's representative for the National Association of Railroad Passengers. (Sioux City Journal, IO)
Transit funds for Metrolink improvements Jul 18, 2009
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Friday the money comes from the Federal Recovery Act aimed at boosting the economy and rebuilding the nation's infrastructure. The funds will support improvements to the Metro light rail and bus system serving the St. Louis area, including neighboring Illinois. (Jefferson City News Tribune, MO)
Lawmakers back line to Iowa City Jul 12, 2009
The four Democrats have sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood backing the route that would also cut through the Quad Cities. A 2008 Amtrak study found the Chicago-Quad Cities section would need $23 million to upgrade existing tracks for 79 mph service. (Muscatine Journal, IO)
Unsafe at Any Speed? Jul 9, 2009
Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood can't be serious ... And if airlines did not hand over this personal information voluntarily, Ray LaHood would make them do it. (Townhall.com)
Transport chief praises U.S.-made streetcar Jul 3, 2009
PORTLAND (AP) - President Obama's transportation secretary, Ray LaHood, has words of praise for both Portland's mass transit and the first U.S.-made streetcar in decades. LaHood told Oregon's congressional delegation on Wednesday that the region's commitment to rail transit will bring federal money, good local jobs and economic growth. (Coos Bay-North Bend The World, OR)
Midwest, Calif. front runners for $8B in rail cash Jun 18, 2009
The governors of the eight Midwest states -- Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin -- wrote Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in April appealing for money for the region, one of the hardest hit by the recession. The California authority has said it hopes to build 800 miles of track for high-speed trains and would ask for federal funds to work on lines between San Francisco and San Jose and Los Angeles and Anaheim. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Congressional Republicans aim to present a united front Jun 5, 2009
Obama has already poached one Republican, former Illinois congressman Ray LaHood, to be his transportation secretary. The president's nomination this week of Representative John McHugh of New York, a moderate Republican, to be secretary of the Army could deprive the House of another GOP member - and Democrats believe they have a good chance of taking the seat. (Boston Globe)
Nixon, Quinn push Biden, LaHood for high-speed rail Jun 4, 2009
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon and Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn continued their funds to build high-speed passenger rail in the Midwest during a roundtable Wednesday with Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. In April, Nixon and Quinn, along with six other Midwestern governors, to LaHood asking him to support plans for rail corridors between cities in their states, including St. Louis to Chicago and St. Louis to Kansas City. (St. Louis Business Journal, MO)
Governors, Biden discuss high-speed rail at WH Jun 4, 2009
If the U.S. is going to make a long-term commitment to high-speed rail, they re going to need someone to build the cars, she told The Associated Press in a phone call after the White House meeting ended in Washington. I really wanted to put in a plug. (Somerset Daily American, PA)
Obama taps Republican for Army secretary Jun 3, 2009
Ray LaHood of Illinois as transportation secretary. Obama tried to get another Republican into the administration, New Hampshire Sen. (MSNBC -- Politics)
LaHood: Spain's bullet trains are model for U.S. May 31, 2009
Ray LaHood said the $8 billion allocated for high-speed railways in the United States will spur economic growth and reduce greenhouse gas emissions ... Spain's development Minister Jose Blanco, talks with Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood during a trip on a high-speed AVE train from Madrid to Zaragoza on Friday. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Obama Fills Key Jobs With Elected Pols May 17, 2009
Obama's Transportation secretary, Ray LaHood (R), represented Illinois' 18th District for 14 years; he announced in 2007 that he would retire at the end of the 110th Congress. Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack also, briefly, a rival of Obama's for the Democratic nomination is secretary of Agriculture and former Washington Gov. Gary Locke (D) is secretary of Commerce. (Roll Call)
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Will Discuss the Economic Stimulus Package at the National Press Club on May 21 May 6, 2009
WASHINGTON, May 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Ray LaHood, the U.S. transportation secretary, will speak at a National Press Club luncheon on May 21, 2009 to discuss his agency's involvement in President Obama's $787 billion economic stimulus package aimed at turning around the U.S. economy. (Logo: ). (PR Newswire)
Transportation chief cites stimulus money success Apr 30, 2009
"I believe we have already achieved enormous success," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told the House Transportation Committee, giving a progress report on infrastructure money allotted under the $787 billion economic stimulus bill passed in February. Lahood, a former Republican congressman from Illinois, told the panel his department had made decisions on $9 billion dollars in projects around the country out of Transportation's $48 billion share of the stimulus package. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Business)
Radicals Run Obamaland Apr 28, 2009
Ray LaHood -- Secretary of Transportation: The longtime congressman from Illinois was one of only three House Republicans who did not sign the 1994 Contract with America. LaHood s critics claim he lacks the experience to effectively lead the nation s transportation plans and oversee the auto industry bailout program. (Human Events Online)
Most diverse Cabinet in history still incomplete Apr 20, 2009
That leaves former GOP congressman Ray LaHood of Illinois as Transportation secretary and Robert Gates, a holdover from Bush's administration who considers himself a Republican, as Defense secretary. The delay in completing the Cabinet hasn't stopped Obama's major initiatives. (USA Today -- News)
Missouri to seek stimulus for high-speed rail Apr 18, 2009
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon and Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, along with six other Midwestern governors and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood asking him to support plans for rail corridors between cities in their states, including one connecting St. Louis to Chicago. The so-called Midwest Regional Rail Initiative, first conceived by Missouri and eight other states in the mid-1990s, has done the needed studies and preliminary work for projects that would... (St. Louis Business Journal, MO)
Midwestern governors push for high-speed Apr 15, 2009
The governors, along with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, have sent a letter to Secretary Ray LaHood asking him to support plans for rail corridors between cities in their states, including St. Louis to Chicago, Nixon s office said Tuesday. The governors are seeking funding for the projects through the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). (St. Louis Business Journal, MO)
Illinois snags chunk of fed stimulus work Apr 14, 2009
As of April 1, DOT had approved 243 projects in Illinois totaling $629 million, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood told the Illinois congressional delegation in a meeting that day. In the last two weeks, three more projects were added, according to a Transportation Department spokeswoman. (Crain's Chicago Business)
Traffic deaths last year lowest since '61 Apr 7, 2009
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood credited more widespread seat belt use for the drop. NHTSA estimated that Michigan had the highest seat belt use, at 97. (CNN -- Travel)
Ill. stretching transportation stimulus funds Apr 2, 2009
(AP) U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said after a Wednesday meeting with Illinois' congressional delegation that he expects federal stimulus money to go further because bids for public works projects are coming in lower than projected. "A lot of these bids are coming in well below what was really thought might be the cost for the projects and that will enable us, I think, to have money to spend that maybe we didn't really realize," the former Republican Illinois congressman said. (Crain's Chicago Business)
Billions for high-speed rail; anyone aboard? Mar 28, 2009
New Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, a former Republican congressman also from Illinois, said developing high-speed rail is the country's No. 1 transportation priority. "Anybody who has ever traveled in Europe or Japan knows that high-speed rail works and that it's very effective," LaHood said in an interview with The Associated Press. (Yahoo News)
EXCLUSIVE: Obama raised cash after leaving Senate Mar 27, 2009
Ray LaHood, Illinois Republican, has given $60,000 of his leftover funds to help reduce the campaign debt of his son's failed run for state office. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, a Democrat who represented Illinois in the House, is one of three administration figures with at least $1 million left over in their congressional campaign funds, FEC records show. (Insight on the News)
Facing America's Identity Crisis -- New Book is a Collection of Insightful Socio-Political Writings On Making a Better America Mar 18, 2009
D.) and The Library of Congress: An Embodiment of the American Identity (with Congressman Ray LaHood). The Soul of America: Essays on the 4th of July * by John Gilligan Publication Date: 03/12/2009 Trade Paperback; $19. (Primezone Releases)
Obama decries earmarks, signs bill with them Mar 12, 2009
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, formerly a Republican congressman from Illinois, $26. 5 million. (AZCentral -- News)
Quigley Wins Illinois Special Primary Mar 4, 2009
Includes a Q Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. . (Roll Call)
AP: Vehicle Mileage Tax Feb 21, 2009
Gasoline taxes that for nearly half a century have paid for the federal share of highway and bridge construction can no longer be counted on to raise enough money to keep the U.S. transportation system moving, LaHood said in an interview with The Associated Press. "We should look at the vehicular miles program where people are actually clocked on the number of miles that they traveled," the former Illinois Republican lawmaker said. (Missourian Publishing, MO)
First lady delivers pep talk at Transportation Feb 21, 2009
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood introduced Mrs. Obama and commented on their mutual Illinois ties. LaHood served 14 years as a Republican congressman for Illinois; the first lady is a native of the state. (WSVN-TV Miami, FL)
Obama Nixes Mileage Tax Idea Feb 21, 2009
Press secretary Robert Gibbs commented after Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told The Associated Press that he wants to consider the idea, which has been proposed in some states but has angered many drivers. It is not and will not be the policy of the Obama administration, Gibbs told reporters, when asked for the president's thoughts about the policy and LaHood's remarks. (CBS News)
Obama nixes plan to tax motorists on mileage Feb 21, 2009
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood gestures during an interview with The Associated Press, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009, in Washington ... Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood gestures during an interview with The Associated Press, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009, in Washington ... Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is interviewed by The Associated Press, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009, in Washington. (Albany Times Union)
Administration nixes idea of taxing miles driven Feb 21, 2009
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood during an interview with the Associated Press in Washington ... Press secretary Robert Gibbs commented after Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told The Associated Press that he wants to consider the idea, which has been proposed in some states but has angered many drivers. (USA Today -- Money)
Caterpillar Troops Don’t Back Stimulus, Says Rep. Schock Feb 14, 2009
Schock, whose predecessor, Ray LaHood, is now Obama s secretary of transportation, said he waited around after the president's remarks, but not one Caterpillar employee approached him to ask that he vote for the bill. In fact, I have received over 1,400 phone calls, e-mails and letters from Caterpillar employees alone asking me to oppose this legislation, Schock said on the House floor Friday. (Human Events Online)
