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Hunter,


This in today's Peoria paper.


Tom


Word on the Street: Biden: Who's Obama's star? It's Ray LaHood
<http://www.pjstar.com/news/word/x905414328/Word-on-the-Street-Biden-Who
s-Obamas-star-Its-Ray-LaHood>


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AP


Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood


John Sharp & Karen McDonald


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1.jpg','1')>


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By John Sharp (jsharp@pjstar.com) <mailto:jsharp@pjstar.com> and Karen
McDonald (kmcdonald@pjstar.com) <mailto:kmcdonald@pjstar.com>

Journal Star <http://www.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