Bipartisanship isn't dead in American politics, and if given a chance, will someday make a comeback. That's the subject of a recent book by Ray LaHood, former member of congress from Peoria and member of President Obama's cabinet - it's called "Seeking Bipartisanship: My Life in Politics."
In August, he presented this year's Ellwood F. Curtis Family Lecture in Public Affairs at Augustana College.
Herb Trix reports.
Many people may not remember that Ray LaHood spent 10 years in the Quad Cities, starting in 1972. Soon after college in Peoria, he came here to be the first director of the Rock Island County Youth Services Bureau, then worked as a planner for what was then known as the Bi-State Metropolitan Planning Commission. LaHood next went to work for republican congressman Tom Railsback from Moline.
After briefly filling a vacant seat in the Illinois House, he returned to his hometown of Peoria to work for Congressman Bob Michel, and when Michel retired LaHood won his seat in the US House (1995-2009). He served as Secretary of Transportation for President Obama from 2009 to 2013.
