Hunter,
This in today's Peoria paper.
Tom
Word
on the Street: Biden: Who's Obama's star? It's Ray LaHood
Photos
AP
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood
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By John
Sharp (jsharp@pjstar.com) and Karen McDonald (kmcdonald@pjstar.com)
Posted Apr 04
, 2010 @ 10:43
PM
Last update Apr 04, 2010 @
11:40 PM
Vice President Joe Biden while in Peoria last week proclaimed
former Congressman-turned-U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood the
"star" of the president's Cabinet.
During the annual Partners in Peace Celebration on Tuesday, Biden
said LaHood was Barack Obama's first choice for an appointment out of all the
Cabinet positions he needed to fill.
"I remember my saying, 'Isn't he Republican?'" Biden
said. "Which goes to show you, this is an all-Illinois team."
"He is the star of the Cabinet and he is the reason, he is
the reason more than anyone else, why this Recovery Act is actually working,
saving people's jobs, rebuilding infrastructure," Biden said. "He's a
hands-on guy. There isn't anything, any detail, too small to attend to. And
that's the way it gets done.
"I don't think there's ever been . . . in the history of the
United States . . . a secretary of transportation who's been given as much
authority, as many resources in a more critical time, than Ray has."
Biden said when LaHood asked him to visit Peoria for The Center
for Prevention of Abuse's annual awards luncheon, he didn't hesitate. What's
amazing is that decision was made back in December, yet everyone kept it under
wraps until late January.
LaHood also took a brief opportunity to again defend congressional
earmarks, noting the audience should "be proud of every one of your tax
dollars that went to The Center for Prevention of Abuse to enhance their
program."
"I know you've all read where 'earmarks' are kind of a dirty
word in Washington and maybe other places. . . . I wanted to do the things in
my district people thought were important to do and we couldn't do any other
way." (K.M)
About the cost ...
This newspaper addressed the issue when former president George W.
Bush was in town for a fundraiser in 2008. And again when President Barack
Obama was in town for a political event in 2009.
So it's only fair we do the same for Biden.
His speech was considered a vice presidential visit that arguably
provided a public benefit - and not a fundraising event.
As a senator from Delaware, he authored the 1994 Violence Against
Women Act, which helped with the creation of numerous family justice centers,
including the one in Peoria.
Therefore, his time in Peoria last week won't cost The Center for
Prevention of Abuse anything, and there won't be any reimbursements.
That's unlike when now-U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, agreed to
voluntarily pay the $38,252 in costs the city incurred in July 2008 providing
police, fire and public works services when then-President George Bush visited
for a private fundraiser on Schock's behalf at Weaver Farms.
Last year, neither Obama's administration nor Caterpillar Inc.
were billed for public services incurred during Obama's visit.
As far as specifics about how much overtime and work was put into
the Biden visit, those figures aren't yet available from the city or county.
However, Peoria County Sheriff Mike McCoy reported the Central
Illinois Emergency Response Team worked, along with auxiliary officers who
operate on a volunteer basis. A lieutenant and several detectives were in the
motorcade, but that's the extent of it. (K.M.)
Tom Carper
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Region Manager
Opportunity Returns
West Central Region
309 836 2684 O
309 255 5782 C
309 836 2683 F
tom.carper@illinois.gov