Oberstar Says Good-Bye

Minnesota Congressman Jim Oberstar bid a tearful farewell to supporters in Duluth Wednesday.  Oberstar is the longest serving congressman in Minnesota history, having been elected to represent the 8th district in 1972.

Oberstar is Chairman of the powerful Transportation Committee.  He has been key to funding the rebuilding of failing highways and bridges across the country.  He was a strong supporter of the stimulus package where millions of dollars was spent on transportation projects, creating jobs during the longest recession in U.S. history.

Mass transit supporters are fearful that high speed rail link between Chicago and Minneapolis will be derailed.  And two-wheel advocates worry that an effort to promote peddle power over gasoline will be lost.