Posts from — May 2008

Recently I’ve noticed an interesting phenomenon in my server logs. Folks are landing at RubberStampRoskam.com using search strings like “how did congressman roskam get my phone number?” or “peter roskam do not call” or “peter roskam stop phone calls” or “stop roskam calls”.

Apparently people are getting a bit perturbed by Peter Roskam’s robo-calls aimed at letting us know what a good guy he is even though he keeps voting against the legislation we care about.

Sorry folks. I can’t make them stop. I’d like to stop receiving them myself.  Can you help us with this Peter? Can we have an opt-out list?

Peter Roskam, who this past week signaled his desire that the military occupation of Iraq be prolonged indefinitely, failed to stand up in support of Illinois veterans returning from honorable service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Roskam continues to support hundreds of billions of dollars in appropriations for George Bush’s wars but refuses to vote to for any spending to aid the men and women who have fought so bravely in those wars.

The vote came on Thursday, May 15 in an amendment to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Peter Roskam voted no. The amendment passed by a margin of 255-166.

The new GI bill, if enacted, will provide veterans with a more substantial package of educational benefits including tutition payments up to the amount of the most expensive public school in the Veteran’s state plus additional funds toward books and housing. It is funded by the veterans themselves, who must buy-in at the beginning of their enlistments and by a tax surcharge of 0.5% on individuals with more than $500,000 and couples with more than $1,000,000 in annual income.

President Bush, who sent these men and women to war, has vowed to veto the bill if it reaches his desk. John McCain, Peter Roskam’s choice for our next President, has also refused to support it, despite his ardent support for the military occupation of Iraq, even to the point of keeping our troops there for 100 years.

Residents of the 6th district who believe in taking care of our veterans should let Roskam know of their displeasure with his continuing failure to stand up for vets. Roskam can be reached at his Washington office at (202) 225-4561 or in Bloomingdale at (630) 893-9670.

Peter Roskam does not say much to his constituents about the war against Iraq. He doesn’t seem to think that we are concerned and doesn’t even  list it in the issues section on his House web site. He apparently doesn’t believe that he is accountable to his district regarding the war. This is a mistake and a big part of the reason that Roskam will be defeated in his re-election bid later this year.

Roskam did, helpfully, this week, with his votes on HR 2642, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008, go on record as to precisely where he stands on Iraq:

• Peter Roskam is OK with leaving our troops in Iraq indefinitely
• Peter Roskam is unwilling to have Congress reclaim the war powers bestowed on it by the constitution, preferring to allow President Bush to engage in whatever military adventure he desires
• Peter Roskam is OK with the continuing to allow the Iraqi government to avoid sharing fully in the costs of reconstruction - that’s what American taxpayers are for
• It is fine with Peter Roskam if American troops in Iraq are charged more for fuel that Iraqi troops are charged - we have plenty of money
• Peter Roskam opposes any requirement that troops be combat-ready before deployment to Iraq and does not believe that Pentagon-established guidelines defining how long troops should be deployed should be enforced
• Peter Roskam believes that U.S. contractors operating in Iraq should enjoy immunity from prosecution for violations of U.S. law and opposes extending the statute of limitations for fraud committed against U.S. taxpayers during the war.
• Peter Roskam thinks permanent bases in Iraq are just fine
• Peter Roskam does not believe there should be restrictions on the practice of torture

A news item at Peter Roskam’s House web site dated May 12 announces that Roskam was honored yesterday by Adventist GlenOaks Hospital in Glendale Heights for having “secured” $190,000 for their new “no-wait” emergency room. At the same time, the hospital dedicated the ER’s radiation facilities to the late Rep. Henry Hyde, Roskam’s predecessor for his work on behalf of the advancement of medical care in the district”, referring, of course, to his tireless efforts to interject the federal government into the relationship between women and their physicians. But I digress.

Adventist Health System, which operates the hospital in Glendale Heights, as well as others in Bolingbrook, LaGrange, and Hinsdale is one of the largest faith-based health systems in the country. According to the hospital’s web site they are in the midst of a $7 million transformation of their emergency department. Why this $190,000 grant secured by Roskam was necessary is unclear. Its a drop in the bucket relative to the size of the project. It is not a drop in the bucket relative to the taxes I pay, however. I figure its as about 8.6 years of my tax dollars, or about 2.5 years of my labor. Not sure why all that money should be going to Adventist. Seems like they could be paying for this. Maybe $190,000 is the cost of getting someone to name something after Henry Hyde. Or maybe this is just a $190,000 donation to Roskams re-election campaign from us taxpayers.

I am not opposed to earmarks for good purposes. But this one disturbs me for two reasons.

First, because Roskam has spent so much time complaining about the earmark process. In fact, as I have noted previously, Roskam joined Reagan 21, a caucus whose members pledged to end all earmarks. Seems a tad hypocritical.

Second, and most important, Roskam is using this earmark to mislead voters when it comes to his record on health care. Roskam is quoted in the article as saying:

“Ensuring access to quality, affordable health care is one of the biggest concerns of families in my district,” said Roskam. “This is a perfect example of why I went to Congress. Advocating on behalf of the health and well being of my constituents is one of my greatest responsibilities and I am proud to have had a small part in bringing advanced health care to Glendale Heights.”:

But voters in the 6th should understand that Roskam’s legislative record shows him to have been a consistent opponent of Democratic efforts to provide greater access to health care for residents of the district. Peter Roskam has voted repeatedly against the expansion of SCHIP, the children’s health insurance program. Roskam has also voted against parity for mental health services in group health plans. And Roskam has even voted against funding for improved health services for veterans.

So if you live in the 6th and lack acces to affordable health care, don’t be fooled. Roskam has done nothing in his term to help you and shows no inclination to do anything in the future.

Read what Roskam’s opponent, Jill Morgenthaler, has to say about access to health care here.

John Hagee, the creepy evangelical pastor who’s support presidential candidate and Peter Roskam ally John McCain so ardently courted, today apologized to Catholics for his anti-catholic remarks which included calling the church “The Great Whore” and accusing it of supporting Adolph Hitler. Hagee’s apology was immediately accepted on behalf of Catholics everywhere by Bill Donahue, head of the Catholic league, who declared the matter closed. This presumably clears the way for Pastor Hagee to refocus on his core ministry of hating gays, Jews, Muslims, and women.

Following Mr. Donahue’s lead, and on behalf of all patriotic white Americans, I am officially accepting Barack Obama’s explanations of his affiliation with Jeremiah Wright, and declaring the matter closed.

We can now take up the real work at hand: electing leaders who will will begin to undo the disastrous legacy of 8 years under George Bush, and not men like John McCain and Peter Roskam who wish to sustain it.

This is the first interview with Jill Morgenthaler that I’ve seen. I like her. She seemed a bit uncomfortable but quite intelligent and articulate.

Jill clearly states a number of positions: clear goals with time-line for withdrawal in Iraq; dialogue with Iran; supports the standards of “No Child Left Behind” but opposes unfunded mandates and vouchers; pro-choice, abortion a matter for a woman and her doctor to decide; favors civil unions but opposed to same-sex marriage; says she is a gun owner and supportive of individual right to bear arms but believes in sensible controls such as on armour-piercing bullets and assault weapons; favors tighter border security, especially on the northern border.

She seems to present a clearly positive alternative to Peter Roskam.

Jill committed to coming back on the program for a face to face discussion with Roskam if he will agree. How about it Peter?

Here’s a link to Jeff Berkowitz’s post about the interview.

And here’s one to Progress Illinois’ post about the interview.