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Longtime Minnesota congressman Oberstar dies at 79
Associated Press ^ | May 3, 2014 2:03 PM EDT | Amy Forliti

Posted on 05/03/2014 12:37:13 PM PDT by Olog-hai

Former U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, who represented northeastern Minnesota for 36 years and brought millions of dollars to the state as chair of the powerful House Transportation Committee, died unexpectedly early Saturday morning. He was 79.

A statement released by his family said Oberstar died in his sleep. A cause of death was not provided. His former chief of staff, Bill Richard, said Oberstar died at his home in Potomac, Maryland. […]

Oberstar, a Democrat, was elected to Congress in 1974 and served 18 terms—the state’s longest-serving member of Congress. Oberstar became chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in 2006.

He was a champion for transportation safety and improvements and supported a concept known as intermodality—connecting highways, subways, city buses, intercity rail and bike paths. He also brought jobs to his district, and noted that the economic stimulus brought $212 million to St. Louis County and increased demand for 1.9 million tons of new steel requiring iron ore from the Iron Range’s taconite mines. …

(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia; US: Maryland; US: Minnesota
KEYWORDS: bikepath; bikeshorts; freakstate; intermodality; jamesoberstar; nannystate; oberstar; porkulus; publictransit; taconite; transportation
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1 posted on 05/03/2014 12:37:14 PM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: Olog-hai

Isn’t the adjective ‘powerful’ in reference to a group responsible for improving and expanding our transportation infrastructure a tacit admission that politicians use such positions to further their own interests?


2 posted on 05/03/2014 12:43:59 PM PDT by relictele (Principiis obsta & Finem respice - Resist The Beginnings & Consider The End)
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To: Olog-hai

These guys never want to call it a day and retire.


3 posted on 05/03/2014 12:44:35 PM PDT by brooklyn dave ( We need a Klingon for President!)
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To: Olog-hai

A Minnesota congressman for 36 years dies in his HOME in Potomac, Maryland. Par for the course


4 posted on 05/03/2014 12:50:27 PM PDT by griswold3 (I was born here in America. I will die here in a third world country. Obama succeeded.)
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To: relictele
More like abuse, but yes indeed.
5 posted on 05/03/2014 12:55:11 PM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: Olog-hai

Minnesota, OBERSTAR: “GOD HELP YOU” IF YOU DON’T SUPPORT GAS TAX INCREASE

http://www.minnesotademocratsexposed.com/2007/08/10/oberstar-god-help-you-if-you-dont-support-gas-tax-increase/

Congressman Jim Obserstar, who serves as chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, proposed legislation on Wednesday that would raise the federal gas tax by 5 cents.

During the press conference on Wednesday, Oberstar lectured people who may not support a 5 cent gas-tax increase. Please watch the video clip below.

Obserstar had 67 EARMARKS in the Highway fund in 2007... NOT ONE EARMARK BUILT A BRIDGE OR ROAD... OR REPAIRED A BRIDGE OR A ROAD.

http://www.startribune.com/191/story/1378267.html

For example, on July 25 — a week before the bridge collapse — Oberstar issued a press release announcing his latest coup for Minnesota.

He had obtained more than $12 million for his home state in a recently passed House transportation and housing bill. Commuter rail was the big winner, getting $10 million. The Cambridge-Isanti Bike/Walk Trail got $250,000, and the KidsPeace Mesabi Academy in Buhl got $150,000. Only $2 million went for meat-and-potatoes road improvements.

Not a penny was slated for bridge repair.


6 posted on 05/03/2014 12:57:49 PM PDT by TurboZamboni (Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.-JFK)
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To: griswold3

He’ll be buried in his spandex bike shorts.


7 posted on 05/03/2014 12:58:36 PM PDT by TurboZamboni (Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.-JFK)
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To: Olog-hai

According to Wikipedia, he was a “pro-life Democrat” and Co-Chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, though he lost pro-life support after voting for Obamacare.


8 posted on 05/03/2014 1:02:44 PM PDT by x
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To: Olog-hai

Oberstar died at his home in Potomac, Maryland. congresscritter from minnesota, maryland?


9 posted on 05/03/2014 1:06:58 PM PDT by kvanbrunt2 (civil law: commanding what is right and prohibiting what is wrong Blackstone Commentaries I p44)
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To: x

There is no such thing as a pro-life Democrat. Bart Stupak was described as a pro-life Democrat.


10 posted on 05/03/2014 1:07:02 PM PDT by johniegrad
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To: x

“Pro-life Democrat” is like “Pro-life RINO”, really. Just say you are against abortion and do nothing about stopping it.


11 posted on 05/03/2014 1:07:23 PM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: Olog-hai

He was a “pro-life Democrat.” I.e., he was against abortion, except when a woman really wanted one.


12 posted on 05/03/2014 1:38:21 PM PDT by Arthur McGowan
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To: kvanbrunt2

“””””””””Oberstar died at his home in Potomac, Maryland. congresscritter from minnesota, maryland?””””””””

Zackly. Just like Franken is serving Minnesota by living in New York.


13 posted on 05/03/2014 1:40:46 PM PDT by shelterguy
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To: Olog-hai
He lost to Chip Cravaack. The article forgot to mention that during his last campaign against Cravaack, he received only ONE donation for his re-election that originated in his district. ONE! May he rest in peace but he did more harm than good, IMHO.
14 posted on 05/03/2014 1:41:19 PM PDT by Fungi
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To: x; Olog-hai; Arthur McGowan

If he voted for ObamaCare, then he’s not pro-life. It’s that simple.


15 posted on 05/03/2014 1:41:35 PM PDT by Hoodat (Democrats - Opposing Equal Protection since 1828)
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To: Olog-hai

Bye...Oberstar. I still want to know why you didn’t live in Minnesota.


16 posted on 05/03/2014 1:42:11 PM PDT by ExCTCitizen (I'm ExCTCitizen and I approve this reply. If it does offend Libs, I'm NOT sorry...)
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To: Olog-hai

He was referred to, quietly, by those who knew him, as “Big Papa Pork”. Even some of his staff members called him that behind his back.

I met him on many occasions. We agreed on almost nothing politically (except he was moderately pro-life as the article mentioned).


17 posted on 05/03/2014 1:45:57 PM PDT by Colonel_Flagg ("Compromise" means you've already decided you lost.)
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To: Hoodat

Exactly.

But he undoubtedly received Communion, and will have a Catholic funeral, at which dozens of pro-abortionists will troop up the aisle for Communion, led by Nancy Pelosi.

http://tinyurl.com/canon915
http://tinyurl.com/pont915 Cf. section #4, which shows that Cardinal Wuerl has NO authority to order his priests to give Communion to Nancy Pelosi.

The Pope shows NO sign of caring about this ongoing scandal. That’s because no one can sue the Church for billions of dollars over this scandal.


18 posted on 05/03/2014 1:52:03 PM PDT by Arthur McGowan
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To: Olog-hai

Cause of death: Starvation. He was disconnected from the federal teat when he lost his seat.


19 posted on 05/03/2014 1:56:16 PM PDT by WorkingClassFilth
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To: Olog-hai
My sympathies to his family. May he rest in peace.

However:

THIS is why we desperately need term limits. I say 12 and done.
20 posted on 05/03/2014 2:33:35 PM PDT by upchuck (Support ABLE, the Anybody But Lindsey Effort. Yes, we are the ABLE!!)
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