UPDATE 1/17/09: Check out this post on LaHood. Also note the PJStar's editorial today on LaHood, which conveniently fails to note the contributions from the favored groups that received LaHood's earmarks.
And hat tip to blogger Bill Dennis of Peoria Pundit for this tidbit on Brad McMillen who formerly worked with LaHood.
PEORIA -- Ray LaHood's session before the US Senate as the nominee for US Transportation Secretary has been put off -- now we know why.
An interesting story in the Washington Post tells all: How LaHood is involved in the Illinois pay-to-play syndrome, the same syndrome that US Atty Patrick Fitzgerald is using to target Gov. Blagojevich.
Consider this paragraph from the Post story:
LaHood sponsored $1.49 million in earmarks directed to Springfield's Memorial Medical Center to fund the purchase of computer-based simulation technology and other equipment. Memorial and its lobbyist Cassidy and Associates together have given $60,000 to LaHood.
And this tidbit: Local road-building companies also have supported LaHood. United Contractors Midwest, led by president James Bruner, is often ranked as his second or third largest donor, and its officials have donated $24,925 to LaHood. Three leading members of the Illinois Asphalt Pavement Association have given more than $60,000 to LaHood.
Last year, he proposed $2 million in road-paving projects, including at least one $245,000 check that the recipient never sought. The money would help an Illinois cemetery resurface its roadways.
"Congressman LaHood's staff called me, saying, 'We know your roads are in bad condition. What can we do?' said LuAnn Johnson, executive director of the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. "We were thrilled for the chance for federal dollars."
LaHood's road-building earmarks have highlighted his relationship with Cellini, head of the Illinois Asphalt Pavement Association and other businesses. Cellini was indicted in October on charges of shaking down government vendors to raise money for Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Meanwhile, wonderkind Congressman Aaron Schock, who has replaced LaHood, has introduced a bill that experts are calling unconstitutional.
He wants to require elections to temporarily replace all Senators who leave office, according to the Chicago Tribune's Eric Zorn.
Here's a quote from the piece: I’m not sure it squares with the U.S. Constitution. The 17th Amendment requires elections to fill Senate vacancies, but not specifically “special” elections. It allows for temporary Senate appointments, and it gives state legislatures broad discretion as to when to hold these elections.
I don’t see how you mandate timetables without amending the Constitution.
So much for state's rights for Schock.
The track record of Peoria's new Republican congressman: first vote against legislation that would allow women to fight wage discrimination (see below, under 'Schock and the 18th District'), then introduce an apparently unconstitutional bill.
Can pay-to-play be far behind?
-- Elaine Hopkins
UPDATE 1/16/09: Schock also voted against reauthorizing the SCHIP program, even when 40 Republicans voted for it. It passed 289-139. This program will provide health care coverage for children. If passed by the Senate, Obama will sign it, he has said.
According to a report from the Campaign for Better Health Care by Families USA, 54% of Illinois' 294,000 uninsured children could be covered with the enactment of the SCHIP bill. That's an additional 159,000 kids who will be able to go to the doctor when they are sick.
No thanks to Schock.
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