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WILKES-BARRE — U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta is expected to meet with President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday, reportedly to discuss the possibility of joining Trump’s cabinet as Secretary of Transportation.

According to a report published by Politico, Trump will meet with Barletta, R-Hazleton, who has been among those rumored to be in the running for transportation secretary.

Tim Murtaugh, spokesman for Barletta, confirmed the meeting, but he could not say why the two would be talking.

The congressman also declined to provide specifics. All Barletta would say is this: “I look forward to my meeting with President-elect Trump and discussing our ideas for moving the country forward.”

Barletta, who sits on both the House Homeland Security and Transportation committees, was an early Trump supporter. He and U.S. Rep. Tom Marino, R-Lycoming Township, endorsed Trump’s candidacy when many of their colleagues were distancing themselves from the campaign, and they served as co-chairmen of Trump’s Pennsylvania campaign. Marino and Barletta also serve on Trump’s transition team.

Barry Schoch, who served as secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation from 2011 to 2015 under Gov. Tom Corbett, said he feels Barletta is “well-qualified” to be transportation secretary.

“Congressman Barletta has a good understanding of the business,” Schoch said from his Camp Hill home. “He has been a businessman, a mayor and a congressman, where he serves on the Transportation Committee. He knows all aspects of the industry, plus he has the political experience. All of that would be of great benefit to President-elect Trump.”

Barletta also has a strong record of being bipartisan, Schoch said, which would be beneficial in dealing with all sides of the transportation industry.

“The Democratic Caucus has a strong interest in mass transportation/public transportation and union issues,”Schoch said. “It’s important to have that understanding, and Lou, as a former mayor and a congressman, has that blend of experience.”

Schoch also noted that it would be of great benefit for Pennsylvania to have this type of representation at the highest levels of government.

“President-elect Trump wants to make a significant investment in infrastructure,” Schoch said. “He needs someone with the complete understanding of the industry, and Congressman Barletta has that.”

In a recent Times Leader article, Barletta discussed his support of legislation calling for increasing funding for infrastructure repairs. Trump’s infrastructure plans are much more aggressive than Congress has favored in recent years, Barletta said.

“This is music to my ears,” Barletta said. “I believe Congress would be receptive to his plan.”

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By Bill O’Boyle

[email protected]

Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.