By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former Illinois Rep. Ray LaHood’s Senate Commerce Committee confirmation hearing for his nomination by President Obama as U.S. Transportation Secretary, set for Jan. 14, was postponed and rescheduled for the afternoon of Jan. 21.

Various news sources cited concerns by the committee over the Peoria Republican’s penchant for “pork” projects benefiting his district; his past associations with a key figure in Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s alleged “pay to play” scandal; and wanting more time to look over LaHood’s full FBI background check.

Several Midwest agriculture-based organizations are backing LaHood’s nomination, including the Illinois Corn Growers Assoc., the Illinois Soybean Assoc., the Soy Transportation Coalition and the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Assoc. The groups cite as their reasons LaHood’s reputation as a fair dealer on both sides of the aisle, and a past willingness to work for agriculture-driven initiatives such as ethanol and biofuel expansion and the Water Resources Development Act.

The new secretary will administer part of Obama’s sweeping, $775 billion stimulus package that will be directed to the Transportation Department.

Ag-based groups speaking in support of LaHood say as secretary, they believe he would work to improve infrastructure problems with roads, rail and waterways, to facilitate better transportation of agricultural and other products.

The Washington Post reported Jan. 14 that postponement of LaHood’s nomination hearing was largely due to the committee’s scrutiny of LaHood’s sponsorship of $60 million in earmarks, or “pork” projects, and steering some $9 million of that federal money to donors last year.

The newspaper also reported LaHood has been criticized for his ties to William F. Cellini Sr., who was indicted in the “pay to play” criminal investigation underway by the office of the Northern District U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald.

WEEK-TV, an NBC affiliate in Peoria, reported on its website that sources say the committee chairman wanted more time to look over LaHood’s full FBI background check.

In related news, LaHood’s successor as representative, Peoria Republican Aaron Schock, was named as one of 75 members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the Peoria Journal Star reported Jan. 9.