Peter Roskam continued his self-declared war on “wasteful spending” and “misguided policies” by voting yet again today against the expansion of SCHIP (HR 3963, Children’s Health Insurance Program Extension and Improvement).

The vote was to override the President’s veto of the bill in December. Today’s vote failed to achieve enough votes thanks to the intransigence of Roskam and many of his Roadblock Republican colleagues. Yes, the same Roskam who has enjoyed complaining about excessive partisanship while voting a straight party line in an attempt to obstruct progress by the Democrats in Congress.

This bill, if enacted, would provide health care to 10 million currently uninusred children. Uninsured children are not among Roskam’s legislative priorities. In Roskam’s view, the money needs to be saved to provide aid programs for big business and big tax cuts for his wealthy neighbors.

Like a campaign? Like some concrete positions on issues?

Jill Morgenthaler is not Peter Roskam and that’s a good thing. There is nothing I want more than to see Roskam replaced. (Well, maybe to see Bush and Cheney indicted.) But it’s not enough. February is getting awfully close and Morgenthaler hasn’t yet shared anything that gives me a basis for voting for her in the Democratic Primary. All I have to go on is a moldy press release from October, a couple of endorsements based on I don’t know what and the insubstantial robo call message I got today that consisted mostly of buzz words like “change” and “experience”.

Morgenthaler, the presumptive nominee, may turn out to be a great candidate, but I have no way of knowing at present. And it’s not that I’m looking for an ideal progressive candidate. I understand the nature of the district and the need for compromise. I’m just looking for someone who will take the needs of her constituents seriously and use her office to provide a “rubber stamp” to corporate interests and a corrupt and malevolent administration as Roskam has done.

But, so far, Morgenthaler has not not demonstrated that she takes the interests of her prospective constituents seriously. She hasn’t deigned to share with us anything of subtance regarding how she would vote and what her legislative priorities would be.

We know how Roskam has voted and what his priorities are (making the rich richer and smoothing the road for big corporations). You need to tell us, Jill, quite specifically, how you would have voted differently and how you will use your office.

Until, that happens, you haven’t earned my vote.