Republican Obama appointee says GOP lawmakers are do-nothings

Friday, October 14, 2011, Vol. 35, No. 41

WASHINGTON (AP) — The most prominent Republican in the Obama administration is accusing GOP House members of blocking efforts to resolve the nation's problems, partly because they don't want the president to be successful.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was asked at a transportation conference Friday why it was so difficult to get big infrastructure projects built right now.

He responded that "some people don't want Obama to be successful."

He said "a big percentage of the Republicans that were elected this time came here to do zero, and that's what they've done." LaHood says those lawmakers have obstructed other people who want to get things done.

LaHood was a Republican congressman from Illinois and worked for House Republican leader Bob Michel years before joining the Obama administration.