Recently retired Republican Congressman from Illinois, Ray LaHood, has been nominated by President-elect Barack Obama to become his transportation secretary. LaHood is the first Arab-American, and second Republican, to be named by Obama as his Cabinet picks.

Barack Obama has indicated that his administration will invest much of the vast economic stimulus package being planned on transportation infrastructure. For that reason, many believe that LaHood will hold an important position in the Obama Cabinet.

Ray LaHood has served in the House of Representatives for 14 years. He would be joining Defense Secretary Robert Gates as the second GOP Cabinet Secretary in the incoming Obama administration. Ray LaHood has been conspicuous in efforts to reduce partisanship in Congress, a factor that may have appealed to Barack Obama.