Oberstar, seen here during a recent visit to Portland, helped craft and passthe nation’s first Safe Routes to School legislation.(Photos © J. Maus) A big surprise from last night’s Democrat drubbing at the polls is that 35-year Congressman Jim Oberstar lost his race to Republican Chip Cravaack. Oberstar lost by just 4,000 votes out of … Read more
Congressman Jim Oberstar clowns around with kids from Beach Elementary School in the Overlook neighborhood of north Portland. – Gallery/Slideshow below – (Photos © J. Maus)
Congressman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) speaks at a press conference near the Broadway Bridge yesterday. Standing behind him are fellow House Representatives Peter DeFazio, Kurt Schrader and David Wu.(Photos © J. Maus)
Oberstar this morning. U.S. Congressman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) has thrown down quite a gauntlet in his public standoff with the Obama administration about the prospects of a new transportation bill. Oberstar released his bill earlier this week (he’s Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee) and he (and other House members) has rebuffed Department … Read more
“Over reliance on automobiles can have adverse impacts on public health, both through lessened physical activity and from increased pollutants.”— from the bill’s description of the Office of Livability U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has released the full text of the federal transportation bill. Calling it the “Surface … Read more
Rep. Jim Oberstar speaking at the 2007 National Bike Summit.(Photos © J. Maus) Today — the man who just two years ago stood in front of 2,000 Cycle Oregon riders in lycra shorts (after he himself battled the day’s grueling climb) and told them he would “thread the language of bicycles into the federal transportation … Read more
Blumenauer in front of his office in D.C.(Photo © J. Maus) The New York Times has published a profile on Portland Congressional Rep. Earl Blumenauer. The story, A Bicycle Evangelist With the Wind Now at His Back appears above-the-fold on page two of the paper’s weekly “Science Times” section. Unlike the recent anti-bike comments by … Read more
Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN)(Photo © J. Maus) Politico published a story today about who might get cabinet-level appointments in a Barack Obama presidency (if he’s elected on Tuesday night of course). Politico reporter Ben Smith and ABC’s Jonathan Karl (who used “well-positioned Democrats” as sources) have put two familiar names in the running for Obama’s … Read more
Rep. Jim Oberstar addressing the Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference in Seattle.(Photos © J. Maus) In the closing address of the 2008 Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference in Seattle on Friday, bicycling’s Grand Man in Congress, Jim Oberstar, shared a history of America’s bike movement, and inspired the assembled crowd with his trademark energy and bravado. For … Read more
This story is part of my ongoing coverage of the 2008 National Bike Summit. See the rest of my coverage here. Tonight, among the high ceilings and dramatic architecture of the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill, was the Congressional Reception; an event where Summit-goers could finally relax after two full days in bike … Read more
DeFazio and Oberstar seemed more like running-mates than Congressional colleagues.(Photos: Jonathan Maus) Last night’s ride report was cut short and I didn’t get a chance to share more thoughts and photos of Congressman Oberstar and Representative DeFazio from last night. The two members of Congress joined Cycle Oregon for a grueling climb yesterday and then … Read more