<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Will Ray LaHood be our next transportation secretary?]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by Bob Wallace http://www.grist.org/article/Ray-it-aint-so/ Wed, 17 Dec 2008 03:39:42 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/Ray-it-aint-so/1 Or...

4) Obama knows this guy personally, finds him to be a trustworthy sort.  

Has had a long, frank talk with him about how we need to get our transportation system transformed to something more sustainable/less carbon producing and found that LaHood agrees with him.  

Has decided that he needs a couple of Republicans in his cabinet as part of healing the division between the two parties and feels that LaHood is a Republican guy who will devote himself to getting the job done quickly and efficiently.

]]> Or...

4) Obama knows this guy personally, finds him to be a trustworthy sort.  

Has had a long, frank talk with him about how we need to get our transportation system transformed to something more sustainable/less carbon producing and found that LaHood agrees with him.  

Has decided that he needs a couple of Republicans in his cabinet as part of healing the division between the two parties and feels that LaHood is a Republican guy who will devote himself to getting the job done quickly and efficiently.

]]> Comment #2 by dddlev http://www.grist.org/article/Ray-it-aint-so/ Wed, 17 Dec 2008 07:33:37 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/Ray-it-aint-so/2 Priority #?

The good news is that Obama's campaign did articulate a Transportation priorities and even displayed a commitment to sustainable modes such as walking and biking.  That is much more than can be said of either of his contenders' campaigns (Clinton's or McCain's).  

At the same time, there are clear signals that he is not treating this as anything like a top-rung issue.  I've copied Obama's agenda priorities at the bottom of this post--transportation is not in the top 20--it's a "sub-issue".

Given that (a) he wants to spend a lot on infrastructure repair and (b) large systems such as rail that are built by companies dominated by Republican-tilting engineers, it wouldn't hurt him too much to have an (R) in that position.  

Further, one of the biggest national strategic issues in transportation is the gas tax.  If Obama is shrewd, he'll understand that we need a major increase in the gas tax (on the order of 50 cents), and the elimination of the gas tax as a "user fee" (i.e., we need to be able to spend that money on other things than transportation.  Who better to lead that charge than a Republican with experience on the Appropriations committee?

-David Levinger

From Obama's Change.gov site

"THE AGENDA"
CIVIL RIGHTS
DEFENSE
DISABILITIES
ECONOMY
EDUCATION
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
ETHICS
FAMILY
FISCAL
FOREIGN POLICY
HEALTH CARE
HOMELAND SECURITY
IMMIGRATION
IRAQ
POVERTY
RURAL
SENIORS & SOCIAL SECURITY
SERVICE
TAXES
TECHNOLOGY
URBAN POLICY
VETERANS
WOMEN
ADDITIONAL ISSUES
  -Faith
  -Arts
  -Child Advocacy
  -Katrina
  -Science
  -Sportsmen
  -Transportation






























]]> Priority #?

The good news is that Obama's campaign did articulate a Transportation priorities and even displayed a commitment to sustainable modes such as walking and biking.  That is much more than can be said of either of his contenders' campaigns (Clinton's or McCain's).  

At the same time, there are clear signals that he is not treating this as anything like a top-rung issue.  I've copied Obama's agenda priorities at the bottom of this post--transportation is not in the top 20--it's a "sub-issue".

Given that (a) he wants to spend a lot on infrastructure repair and (b) large systems such as rail that are built by companies dominated by Republican-tilting engineers, it wouldn't hurt him too much to have an (R) in that position.  

Further, one of the biggest national strategic issues in transportation is the gas tax.  If Obama is shrewd, he'll understand that we need a major increase in the gas tax (on the order of 50 cents), and the elimination of the gas tax as a "user fee" (i.e., we need to be able to spend that money on other things than transportation.  Who better to lead that charge than a Republican with experience on the Appropriations committee?

-David Levinger

From Obama's Change.gov site

"THE AGENDA"
CIVIL RIGHTS
DEFENSE
DISABILITIES
ECONOMY
EDUCATION
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
ETHICS
FAMILY
FISCAL
FOREIGN POLICY
HEALTH CARE
HOMELAND SECURITY
IMMIGRATION
IRAQ
POVERTY
RURAL
SENIORS & SOCIAL SECURITY
SERVICE
TAXES
TECHNOLOGY
URBAN POLICY
VETERANS
WOMEN
ADDITIONAL ISSUES
  -Faith
  -Arts
  -Child Advocacy
  -Katrina
  -Science
  -Sportsmen
  -Transportation






























]]>