Ray LaHood: Difference between revisions
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His nomination was confirmed by the Senate by [[acclamation|voice vote]] on January 21, 2009.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/us/politics/22lahood.html |title=Panel Approves Transportation Nominee |work=New York Times |date=January 22, 2009 |author=Matthew L. Wald}}</ref> |
His nomination was confirmed by the Senate by [[acclamation|voice vote]] on January 21, 2009.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/us/politics/22lahood.html |title=Panel Approves Transportation Nominee |work=New York Times |date=January 22, 2009 |author=Matthew L. Wald}}</ref> |
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On February 3, 2009, LaHood was criticized for his response to [[Toyota| |
On February 3, 2009, LaHood was criticized for his response to [[Toyota|Toyota's]] recall of several car models due to faulty gas pedals. He made a statement instructing Toyota owners to "stop driving" their cars, and later retracted it,<ref>[http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2010/02/toyota-recall-transportation-secretary-ray-lahood-advises-owners-not-to-drive-their-cars/1 LaHood pulls back from telling owners not to drive their cars]</ref> confusing and alarming people affected by the recall and causing shares in Toyota stock to plunge in value.<ref>[http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2010/02/04/2010-02-04_untitled__toyota04m.html Toyota's shares hit the skids after transport czar Ray LaHood's "stop driving" blunder]</ref> |
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==Electoral history== |
==Electoral history== |
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Revision as of 16:43, 4 February 2010
 | The examples and perspective in this article may not include all significant viewpoints. (December 2009) |
Ray LaHood | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 16th United States Secretary of Transportation | |
| Assumed office January 22, 2009 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Deputy | John Porcari |
| Preceded by | Mary Peters |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 18th district | |
| In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Bob Michel |
| Succeeded by | Aaron Schock |
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives | |
| In office 1982–1983 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 6, 1945 Peoria, Illinois |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Kathy LaHood |
| Alma mater | Bradley University |
| Profession | Politician, Teacher[1] |
Raymond H. "Ray" LaHood (born December 6, 1945) is the current United States Secretary of Transportation and a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives.
During his service in Congress, he became well-known among C-SPAN viewers, as the presiding officer of more debates than any other member.[2] Most notably, he presided over the impeachment vote against President Bill Clinton.
Life and career
LaHood was born in Peoria, Illinois, the son of Mary A. (née Vogel), who was of German ancestry, and Edward M. LaHood, a Lebanese American.[3][4] He was educated at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, from which he earned a degree in education. He was a school teacher,[1] director of the Rock Island County Youth Services Bureau, and an aide to Representatives Tom Railsback and Robert Michel before entering politics. He served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives for one term between 1982 and 1983. LaHood is a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership.
LaHood succeeded his boss, Bob Michel, after the latter's retirement. Elected as part of the Republican Revolution of 1994, he was one of only three Republican candidates who did not sign on to the Contract with America, Newt Gingrich's manifesto for a Republican majority.[5]
LaHood was said to be considering a challenge to Governor Rod Blagojevich's re-election bid in 2006, but on August 18, 2005 he ruled out a run, saying few outside his district knew him.
In 2006, LaHood won against Steve Waterworth[6] by a margin of 147,108 (67%) to 71,106 (33%).[7] On July 26, 2007, LaHood stated he would not seek re-election in 2008 and would retire when his current term expired in January 2009.[8]
In August 2007, LaHood received a 0% rating from the conservative and anti-earmark Club for Growth 2007 RePORK Card.[9] He received an 11% rating from the conservative lobbying group Citizens Against Government Waste in August 2007, and holds a lifetime 49% rating from the group.[10]
In 2007 LaHood was considered for the post of president of his alma mater, Bradley University,[11] however, he decided against applying for the position.[12]
A strong advocate for preserving the legacy of Abraham Lincoln, LaHood authored a law that established the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, which laid the groundwork for celebrating the 16th President's 200th birthday in 2009. He has also been a lead Capitol Hill supporter for the Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Illinois, and is one of 15 members on the ALBC.
Secretary of Transportation
On December 19, 2008, President-elect Barack Obama announced that he would nominate Ray LaHood to be the next Transportation Secretary. The nomination was viewed negatively by a blog, WorldChanging.com which said he was a "a conservative Illinois Republican with little transportation expertise and almost no administrative experience ... who maintains deep financial connections to the very industries he's now supposed to regulate". [13] His résumé on transport matters was seen as thin by critics, including the Wall Street Journal. He did not serve on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee at the time his selection was announced, although he had in the past. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee he did not work on transportation funding.[14]
His nomination was confirmed by the Senate by voice vote on January 21, 2009.[15]
On February 3, 2009, LaHood was criticized for his response to Toyota's recall of several car models due to faulty gas pedals. He made a statement instructing Toyota owners to "stop driving" their cars, and later retracted it,[16] confusing and alarming people affected by the recall and causing shares in Toyota stock to plunge in value.[17]
Electoral history
| Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | G. Douglas Stephens | 78,332 | 39% | Ray LaHood | 119,838 | 60% | * | ||
| 1996 | Mike Curran | 98,413 | 41% | Ray LaHood | 143,110 | 59% | |||
| 1998 | (no candidate) | Ray LaHood | 158,175 | 100% | * | ||||
| 2000 | Joyce Harant | 85,317 | 33% | Ray LaHood | 173,706 | 67% | |||
| 2002 | (no candidate) | Ray LaHood | 192,567 | 100% | |||||
| 2004 | Steve Waterworth | 91,548 | 30% | Ray LaHood | 216,047 | 70% | |||
| 2006 | Steve Waterworth | 73,052 | 33% | Ray LaHood | 150,194 | 67% |
See also
- United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 2008
- List of U.S. political appointments that crossed party lines
References
- ^ a b "Rep. LaHood Talks History at Holy Family School". Peoria, Illinois: WEEK-TV. 2008-10-08. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
Before he entered politics, LaHood was a social studies teacher at Holy Family. "To come back here is really to come back full circle. My interest in politics really was sparked by what I was doing in terms of teaching kids here at Holy Family about the constitution and about government," said LaHood.
- ^ U.S. Congressman Ray LaHood (Archived version from 2003)
- ^ "Ancestries of Miscellaneous Celebrities, Ray LaHood". Ancestry.com. Retrieved February 4, 2010.
- ^ "Famous Arab Americans - Political". Arab American Institute. Retrieved February 4, 2010.
- ^ Fletcher, Michael A. (December 18, 2008). "Obama to Add GOP's LaHood to Cabinet". Washington Post.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Waterworth for Congress
- ^ Elections 2006 CNN
- ^ LaHood will not seek re-election The Swamp, July 26, 2007
- ^ The 2007 Club for Growth RePORK Card "The Club For Growth", August 9, 2007
- ^ Citizens Against Government Waste 2007 House Scorecard "Citizens Against Government Waste", August 27, 2008
- ^ LaHood Ponders Post The Peoria Star, June 2, 2007 [dead link]
- ^ LaHood stays put The Hill, July 10, 2007 [dead link]
- ^ Steffen, Alex (January 12, 2009). "Ray LaHood and Changing Our Thinking About Transportation". WorldChanging.com.
- ^ Weisman, Jonathan (2008-12-18). "LaHood to Get Transportation Post". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Matthew L. Wald (January 22, 2009). "Panel Approves Transportation Nominee". New York Times.
- ^ LaHood pulls back from telling owners not to drive their cars
- ^ Toyota's shares hit the skids after transport czar Ray LaHood's "stop driving" blunder
- ^ "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
External links
- Secretary Ray LaHood official website
- Ray LaHood on the Daily Show, December 15, 2009
- Congressional career
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia
- Articles
- A Setback for Civility David S. Broder, Washington Post, August 2, 2007, on Ray LaHood's retirement announcement
- LaHood tapped for Obama Cabinet Karen McDonald, Peoria Journal Star, December 17, 2008
- The GOP Goes South David S. Broder, "Washington Post," December 28, 2008, on Ray LaHood's selection for the Obama cabinet and what that means for the Republican Party
- Ray LaHood: The Obama Appointment You Should Be Really Worried About Alternet article about reasons for opposition to LaHood's appointment.
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Members of the Cabinet of the United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet members |  | |
| Cabinet-level members | ||
a acting Cabinet of Joe Biden | ||
- 1945 births
- Living people
- Members of the Illinois House of Representatives
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois
- Arab American politicians
- Obama Administration cabinet members
- Lebanese Americans
- People from Peoria, Illinois
- Illinois Republicans
- American Roman Catholics
- American Maronites
- United States Secretaries of Transportation