Ray LaHood

Republican Ray LaHood is a former congressman representing the the 18th District of Illinois.

On January 23, 2009, LaHood took the oath of office as President Barack Obama's secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. LaHood became the second Republican to join Obama's administration.U.S. Department of Transportation: Ray LaHood

On February 3, 2010, LaHood testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on transportation and advised owners of any Toyota vehicle subject to their recall to, "...stop driving it."http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100203/ap_on_bi_ge/us_toyota_recall

LaHood went on to reiterate what he had told reporters prior to giving his testimony, that Toyota cars subject to the recall should, "take it to a Toyota dealer because they believe they have a fix for it."

• 1977-1982: District Administrative Assistant to Rep. Tom Railsback
• 1982-1983: Illinois State House of Representatives
• 1982-1994: Rep. Robert Michel's Chief of Staff
• 1995-2009: Representative for Illinois' 18th District Project Vote Smart: Rep. Ray LaHood
• 2009 - present: Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation

"'Rahm Emanuel and I are very good friends. He and I had six or seven bipartisan dinners this year that I invited some Republicans and he invited some Democrats. Sen. Obama and I worked very closely together when we were putting the transportation bill together a couple of years ago. I think I have a great relationship with both of them."PJStar.com (Peoria, Ill): LaHood Tapped for Obama Cabinet (December 17, 2008)

"The only way to get anything done is by being bipartisan. That's what people who live in the real world do. They work together on school boards, hospital boards and library boards."House.gov: Washington Will Miss Ray LaHood

• ChicagoTribune.com: ...Jill Zuckman to join Obama administration (February 16, 2009)

• Washington Wire (WSJ): GOP Rep. LaHood Eyed for Transportation Secretary (December 17, 2008)

• Bloomberg.com: Repub... LaHood Likely to Be Obama's Pick for Transport... (December 17, 2008)

• The Swamp: [ LaHood Asked to be Transportation Sec] (December 17, 2008)

• <p>WQAD.com (Ill): Republican LaHood asked to join Cabinet (December 17, 2008)

• <p>PJStar.com (Peoria, IL): LaHood Tapped for Obama Cabinet (December 17, 2008)

• Progress Illinois: "Ray LaHood? Really?" (December 17, 2008)

• CBS News: Ray LaHood Announces Retirement (July 26, 2007)