"More than a decade has passed since Rep. Bobby Rush beat a young, ambitious state senator named Barack Obama in a lopsided Democratic primary for Illinois' 1st District.

Obama went on to win the presidency just eight years after Rush trounced him by 30 points in that 2000 congressional race, handing him the only loss of his political career. Rush has remained in the House, where he was re-elected last fall to a 13th term representing the South Side of Chicago.

Now their paths will reconnect this Congress -- in spirit, at least -- because Rush is in a prime position to help defend President Obama's environmental legacy."

Daniel Bush reports for Greenwire February 17, 2015. [2]