Category — Congressional Elections

Peter Roskam was on NBC 5’s City Desk this past Sunday morning for a softball interview with host Mary Ann Ahern. Roskam opened with his usual complaints about a dysfunctional (read that as Democratic) Congress. He wants you to believe that he’s a reasonable guy who just wants to get thing s done for you but he’s stymied at every turn by less responsible members who are only interested in partisan politics and serving the needs of special interests.

Roskam is not telling you the truth. He is not only one of the most partisan members of Congress but also one of the most slavishly devoted to special interests.

During the current Congress, Peter Roskam has voted with his party 93.2% of the time. There are only 17 out of a total of 435 members, Republican or Democrat, who have voted more consistently with their party than Roskam. They are:

1. Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA), 93.9%
2. Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), 93.8%
3. Rep. David Davis (R-TN), 93.8%
4. Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA), 93.8%
5. Rep. Stevan Pearce (R-NM), 93.8%
6. Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH), 93.8%
7. Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR), 93.7%
8. Rep. David Dreier (R-CA), 93.6%
9. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), 93.6%
10. Rep. Jim McCrery (R-LA), 93.6%
11. Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA), 93.6%
12. Rep. Zachary Wamp (R-TN), 93.6%
13. Rep. John Mica (R-FL), 93.5%
14. Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL), 93.4%
15. Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT), 93.3%
16. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD), 93.3%
17. Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA), 93.3%

It should be noted that only 4 out of 17 of these are Democrats. So Roskam is among the most hyper-partisan representatives and a member of the most hyper-partisan party. He is upset, not because of partisanship, but because his party is in the minority. He should be reminded that this is the case because his party proved to be massively corrupt in the previous Congresses and because it launched a preemptive aggressive war against a sovereign power which posed no real threat, sent a few thousand brave American men and women to their graves in that cause, and mortgaged our children’s future to pay for it all.

As for special interests, Roskam has compiled an impressive record, voting the position of the National Association of Manufacturers 100% of the time during his first term. Doing this has meant voting against the interests of the residents who live in his district on issues like equal pay for equal work, Medicare prescription drug price negotiation, and parity in mental health benefits for members of group health plans.

Roskam also spent a good deal of time on the show talking about high gasoline prices and the need for alternative energy sources. Roskam’s record however is one of obstructing Democratic efforts in this regard and voting instead in favor of protecting the big oil companies who are currently gouging us, all the while accepting substantial campaign contributions from the energy sector.

So 6th District residents, it is not Congress that is dysfunctional. It’s your Congressman. But don’t worry, we’re going to replace him this fall.

[Progress Illinois has a post today about Roskam's attempt to justify his vote against the new GI bill on the same program]

Peter Roskam held a campaign event at the Jewel in Elmhurst yesterday. I say a campaign event. Peter would tell you he’s just staying in touch with his constituents. I suspect that as the election draws closer you won’t be able to pick up a six pack of a frosty beverage at the 7-11 without having to shake hands with your Congressman who just wants to listen to your concerns.

Here’s what the puff piece in the Elmhurst Press had to say:

A handful of residents patiently stood in line Tuesday to spend a few minutes speaking with U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, R-6th District, of Wheaton.

Roskam visited the Jewel-Osco at 153 E. Schiller St. in Elmhurst from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. as a way to connect with residents, he said.

“Washington, D.C., can be an echo chamber, and I want to make sure I’m listening to the district I grew up in,” Roskam said.

Residents spoke to Roskam about everything from community issues to national ones like high gas prices, the war in Iraq and Social Security concerns.

Elmhurst resident Carol Chlystek said she appreciated Roskam’s efforts to connect with the community that he represents.

“I think it’s interesting that he came out to the community,” Chlystek said. “I spoke to him about international relations and education issues. He was very perceptive to my ideas.”

Around 35 people waited to speak to Roskam for as long as they needed. Roskam recently held a similar event in Bartlett, said Brian McCarthy, Roskam’s district director.

Greg Ryan of Elmhurst said he and his family decided to take time of their day to meet with Roskam because they support him.

“I’ve known Peter Roskam for a while and have been aware of Peter Roskam’s record for a while,” Ryan said. “I’m very impressed. … His heart and mind are in the right place.”

McCarthy said residents were free to talk to Roskam about absolutely anything on their minds, calling the event a “fair game.” He added the events happen a few times a month.

After meeting residents at Jewel-Osco, Roskam and his team and Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry Director John Quigley walked up and down York Road to meet with business owners.

“He stopped in and was a very nice man,” said John S. Rezny, president of York Furrier, 107 N. York Road. “I’m a supporter, and he wanted to know about the businesses and the climate.”

Isn’t that special. Did you check out the food prices while you were there Peter? Did you talk to any food stamp recipients and explain why you had voted against giving them an increase?

Sadly, I wasn’t present at this event. I apparently wasn’t on the handpicked list of safe Republican voters who were given advance notice. Next time you come to Elmhurst Peter, come down to the Jewel on the south side, where the Democrats shop.

Since I couldn’t attend Peter I need to give you my questions here:

• Why do you keep voting to support George Bush’s war against Iraq and sending our young men and women there to die?
• Why do you continue to vote in favor of George Bush’s continued practice of torture and inhumane treatment of prisoners and endless detention without trial?
• Why do you disrespect the sacrifice of the men and women who serve in Iraq and Afghanistan by voting against providing the support they need on their return - support like the new G.I. bill.

You can just drop me a note Peter and I’ll publish your answers for all to see. Othwerwise, I’ll just catch up with you the next time I go out to buy eggs.

In a press release dated May 22nd, 6th District Congressional candidate Jill Morgenthaler takes her opponent, Peter Roskam, to task, for his consistent failure to support legislation that would benefit Illinois veterans, including his recent no vote on the GI Bill. The release states:

Sixth District Democratic Congressional Candidate Jill Morgenthaler blasted her opponent Peter Roskam for his votes against veterans in the days leading up to Memorial Day. “What does Peter Roskam have against U.S. troops and veterans? Roskam says he supports vets and then repeatedly votes against us. When Roskam ran for Congress he said he was for our troops, but he voted against appropriations for the new GI Bill and against the future of our troops and veterans.”

“Roskam needs to keep his promises to our soldiers. He voted with President George Bush and John McCain and voted against soldiers and veterans. Our troops deserve better treatment. They deserve the healthcare and education that they were promised when they signed up,” said Jill Morgenthaler.

Morgenthaler, a businesswoman and a Colonel who served in the United States Army for thirty years, supports the new GI Bill (Post 911 Veterans Educational Assistance Act) and advocates that Congress should keep its commitment to health care and education benefits for the soldiers who have served our country. “Roskam and his fellow Republicans say they support ours troops and then vote against them. We need well trained soldiers to protect our nation. If we send soldiers in to battle, we need to keep our bargains with them after the battle.”

Amen to that. Roskam has been steadfast in his support of allowing George Bush to continue to send our young men and women in to harms way in Iraq. It’s time he offered them something more than photo ops and flowery statements when they come home. Roskam’s only interest in vets appears to be in using them as props in his re-election campaign. Speaking of which, Roskam was here in Elmhurst over the weekend for the Memorial Day Parade. I did not attend, but I understand from someone who did that Roskam used the event, not as a commemoration of those who have served and died but as a campaign event, replete with a coterie of marchers with Roskam for Congress signs.

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?

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.

I’ve been too busy with work the past couple of weeks to spend much time on the web. I see tonight for the first time that Jill Morgenthaler’s campaign website is up and running. The site looks good and I am certainly excited that she appears to be ready now to take Peter Roskam on in earnest. She has some issues pages up and, while they don’t have a lot of depth and aren’t every progressive’s wet dream, they do begin to position her as a real alternative to the catastrophic failed policies of Bush and Roskam and company. It looks like Jill intends to speak to the ordinary folk who make up the bulk of this district and who are really beginning to feel the pain inflicted by 8 years of Bush, and not so much to the super rich and corporate elite to whom Bush and Roskam cater. I wish her success.

And thanks Jill for actually taking the trouble to make a case for yourself. I find Peter’s “I grew up in the district, I live in the district, my dog lives in the district, I have my car washed in the district, I sometimes order pizza in the district…” litany to be somewhat unpersuasive.