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LaHood Returns to Peoria
Joking that he needed to come home so he could pay his mortgage and utility bills, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood spent time in Peoria's U.S. Department of Transportation office Friday.

The former seven-term Republican congressman made it clear to reporters: he is on a new team now, the Obama team. LaHood says his job is to advance the Obama agenda for all of America, not just his district. LaHood did not seek another term and actually was an early supporter of John McCain for president, but White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel is a friend of LaHood's, and called him about the job on the Cabinet.

LaHood says his career has been about public service without partisan labels, and he says that will continue in the Obama Administration.

He did not want to say much about former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, but did say he is looking forward to working with the new governor, Pat Quinn. And he dismissed recent Chicago Tribune columns tying him to indicted Republican power broker Bill Cellini. LaHood says he stands on his own record and reputation of transparency.

(Illinois Radio Network)
01 30 09 by Newsroom
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