Sec. LaHood gives Rep. DeFazio a rusty old screw for Christmas

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) got a very special Christmas gift from Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Friday at a Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee hearing: a rusted old lag screw.

The four inch-long screw came from the Chicago Transit Authority and was estimated to be about 55-60 years old; it was intended to demonstrate the poor condition of the federal transit infrastructure.

But DeFazio saw another purpose for it. "I would like to get one of those," he said to LaHood, "if they can provide one. Next time they take one out [of the subway tracks]."

As LaHood wrapped up his testimony, he held up the screw. "May I present this as a Christmas gift to you?" he asked DeFazio.

The lawmaker smiled, "I think it meets all of the statutory requirements," he said, referring to ethics guidelines on gifts to members of Congress.

"One used, outmoded part. It was made in America, and it did last a long time," DeFazio continued, eliciting laughs from the audience. "Thank you."

LaHood picked up the screw as he prepared to leave the hearing. "Sorry to deprive you of your paperweight here," quipped DeFazio.

"There's plenty more where that came from," LaHood said half-jokingly.