Poverty and Homelessness? In the 6th District? I’m confused…

On 11.13.09, In Ben Lowe, Economic Justice, Peter Roskam, Poverty, Veterans, By RSR

I thought Henry Hyde and Peter Roskam had licked those problems years ago by pretending they don’t exist.

But here I read that Ben Lowe, our new Democratic Candidate for the House of Representatives in the 6th District went to a forum on “Homelessness in DuPage County” yesterday at the Wheaton Public Library and Ben reports that poverty and homelessness are still with us after all:

According to DuPage County Continuum, there are approximately 41,000 residents who are living below the poverty level and a solid quarter of these are children. A One Night survey conducted on January 22 2009 found 659 homeless people in the county that night (which, thanks to the increased efforts of groups like the ones above, is actually down from 766 in 2007!). Even so, in a district with as many financial resources as ours, this is 659 too many people without a roof over their heads.

And of course the poverty statistic understates the problem because the Federal poverty level is set so low: for a family of 4, $22,050. Can you imagine the difficulty of trying to feed clothe, and house a family of 4 here in DuPage County on just $22,050.

So, Ben, I’m wondering whether you happened to run into Peter Roskam at the meeting. You would have recognized him: an angry man with a receding hairline carrying handcuffs and a large stack of paper. I feel certain he must have been there -in his hometown,  with a problem this serious affecting his district. But then the Bears were playing…

I have to say, I think I’m developing a serious crush on our new candidate. Not only has he acknowledged the existence of poverty and homelessness here in our district but he thinks that government (which really just us banding together to manage things that we can’t manage as individuals) might actually be able to contribute to a solution:

Based on further suggestions from our panelists, here is what I agree the government can do to help more, especially during these tough economic times:

  • We must make Housing Choice Vouchers more accessible and dramatically reduce the waiting list (the wait can be up to 5 years for those that qualify)
  • We need to reform Medicaid We must invest in more affordable housing
  • We need to offer programs that help retrofit and upgrade old low-income housing units so that they save energy (and thus money) and make for healthier homes
  • For our veterans: we have great camps training civilians to be soldiers; we need to invest just as seriously into programs that help transition soldiers back into civilians.

I am anxious to hear Representative Roskam’s plan but I have a sneaking suspicion it will involve a repeal of the estate tax.

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The Company Peter Roskam Keeps

On 09.10.09, In Friends of Peter Roskam, Healthcare, Peter Roskam, Wingnuts, By RSR

If you watched President Obama’s address to the joint session of Congress last night or have seen the news since, you no doubt heard or heard about Representative Joe Wilson’s inappropriate outburst during the speech. Wilson screamed out “You lie!” when the President stated unequivocally that his proposed health care reform plan would not provide coverage to illegal aliens:

On insistence of the Republican leadership, Wilson, a South Carolina Republican, today apologized for his outburst and his apology was graciously accepted by President Obama.

I was intrigued to see at the New York Times and at TPM this morning , that our own Peter Roskam was seated directly to Wilson’s left during the speech.

It does not appear that they are seated alphabetically, or by state delegation, because  they would not fall together. They aren’t seated by Committee because Wilson is not on Ways and Means. They aren’t particularly close in seniority – Wilson was seated in 2001, Roskam in 2007.  So either they were seated that way by accident, or they chose to sit together.

I don’t know whether Wilson and Roskam are close. If they were, I would not be surprised. The two have very similar voting records – 93% out of 2318 roll call votes since 2007 were identical according to Open Congress’ nifty new comparison tool as of this writing. Both Roskam and Wilson have been working to defeat President Obama’s efforts to provide healthcare coverage to all Americans. And Roskam has not been afraid to play the illegal alien card himself when he thought it could work to his political advantage.

It would be interesting to hear Peter Roskam’s thoughts on Wilson’s outburst, the nature of his relationship with Joe Wilson, and whether he admonished Wilson himself on his behavior, having been seated right next to him.

And what’s that angry scowl about on Roskam’s face?

Addendum: I just heard Peter Roskam quoted on WBEZ a saying he “cringed” at Wilson’s remarks. But the photo’s don’t seem to show Roskam reacting negatively to Wilson. Rather his attention and his scowl seem to be focused elsewhere. Notably, WBEZ did not quote Roskam as saying he chastised his colleague. Presumably, he did not.

2nd Addendum: The Daily Herald now reports that Roskam was “surprised” and “disappointed” by Wilson’s outburst. The camera does not show that. If Roskam had been surprised we would see him reacting to Wilson at this moment. Instead his expression, IMHO, seems to be a reaction to the President on the podium. Birds of a feather, I believe.

3rd Addendum:  TPM has further background on Joe Wilson including his attacks on Sen. Strom Thurmond’s illegitimate daughter (Wilson is a former Thurmond page) and on Rep. Bob Filner who had the temerity to state that the U.S. had armed Saddam Hussein. Its a little frightening, though not particularly surprising, that Peter Roskam would hang out with this guy. Perhaps Peter would feel more at home if he joined the the South Carolina delegation. The climate is nicer (at least for the moment) and South Carolina is a better fit for a 19th century kind of guy like Roskam.

Last Addendum: It looks like, as of this writing, Miller has raised over $750,000 in campaign contributions since Wilson’s outburst on Wednesday night.

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Peter Roskam Casts Anti-Family Vote to Oppose Paid Parental Leave

On 06.10.09, In Executive Compensation, Healthcare, Middle Class, Peter Roskam, Peter Roskam's Corporate Agenda, By RSR

If I don’t have much good to say about Peter Roskam these days, I can at least credit him for being consistent. Roskam is quite consistently opposed to anything that might possibly benefit an ordinary working man or woman at the expense of the giant corporations and wealthy individuals whose interests he uses his seat in Congress to represent.

It was no surprise when Peter Roskam voted against the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2009 on June 4, 2009. Congressman Roskam has been a fierce advocate of unlimited pay for corporate executives, but God forbid any working mother or father should be given the time and the financial wherewithal to care for a new child. Why that would make us no different than those Commie countries like… like Canada!

H.R. 626 provides for 4 weeks of paid parental leave to federal employees surrounding the birth or adoption of a child. Federal employees currently receive 12 weeks of unpaid leave (as do all employees subject to the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993). The bill further provides that the employees can use accumulated sick time and vacation time to convert some or all of the balance of that 12 weeks into paid time. Finally, the Office of Personnel Management would be enabled to extend the paid period to 8 weeks. The measure applies only to federal employees and would be at best a weak immitation of pro-family policies in place in many Western countries. Hell, even Zimbabwe gives mothers 90 days at 100%.

Roskam, of course, in addition to not wanting to spend a dime of our federal tax dollars on a working family, fears that the bill will be a foot in the door for future further enhancements to FMLA, something that Roskam’s corporate overlords at the U.S. Chamber and at the National Association of Manufacturers virulently oppose.

Despite Roskam’s vote, along with those of most of his Republican colleagues, H.R. 626 passed by a vote of  258-154. It will now have to be taken up by the Senate.

Peter Roskam deserves to be shamed for his anti-family vote. Please contact him today.  You can reach him at (202) 225-4561 in Washington or at (630) 893-9670 in Bloomingdale.

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Peter Roskam Sides With Credit Card Companies Over Constituents

On 05.20.09, In Economic Justice, Middle Class, Peter Roskam, By RSR

Do you think it is fair for your credit card company to be able to raise your interest on an existing balance without notice and without explanation? Probably not.

But if you live in Illinois’ 6th Congressional district, your Congressman, Peter Roskam, thinks it is just fine, and he said so today with his vote.

The House today sent the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights Act to President Obama for his signature. The Senate version of the bill, which was stronger than the original House version, passed in the House by a 361-64 vote. Peter Roskam was the only member of the Illinois delegation voting against this important measure designed to protect consumers from the worst predatory practices of the banking and credit card industry.

Provisions of the bill include:

  • Prohibits companies from raising interest rates during the first year after an account is opened
  • Prevents increases in interest rates on an existing balance unless a payment is at least 60 days overdue
  • Requires 45 day written notice for rate increases on new purchases
  • Prevents companies from charging over-limit fees for purchases without prior agreement from the cardholder
  • Requires bills be sent at least 21 days prior to the due date and that they contain a statement of the total interest and time required to pay off the balance if the cardholder makes only minimum payments
  • Requires companies to post clearly explained rates and terms on the internet
  • Prevent companies from opening card accounts for consumers under age 21 without proof of ability to pay
  • Eliminates fees for telephone payments
  • Prevents companies from applying payments only to the portion of a balance bearing the lowest interest rate

President Obama has pushed for this kind of action on abusive credit card practices and is expected to sign the bill. The President and the Democratic leadership did a great job of putting this together fast. It is crystal clear which party is looking after our interests.

Roskam’s opposition to this bill, while disappointing, was not surprising.  During his tenure Roskam has shown little empathy for the plight of consumers, instead voting pretty consistently for the interests of big business, particularly the finance industry.  Roskam also receives substantial campaign contributions from the financial sector.

Roskam’s  constituents should take him to task for once again using his office to oppose their interests. Please call the Congressman today. You can reach him at (202) 225-4561 in Washington or at (630) 893-9670 in Bloomingdale.

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Video: Roskam is Wrong for IL-06

On 10.23.08, In Jill Morgenthaler, Peter Roskam, Wingnuts, By RSR

From the Morgenthaler campaign.  Good to see her hitting back at this creep.

More video here. Thanks bilco5 for the heads up. I hadn’t seen these.

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Telco Contributions Return Big Dividend in Peter Roskam’s FISA Vote

On 06.29.08, In Civil Rights, George Bush, Lobbyists, Peter Roskam, Peter Roskam's Corporate Agenda, By RSR

Earlier this month, Peter Roskam voted to give a big gift to telephone companies: retroactive immunity from civil lawsuits for their role in George Bush’s illegal scheme to spy on Americans. Peter Roskam, would tell you, no doubt, that large campaign contributions from telephone companies and Roskam’s close personal ties to lobbyists for Verizon had absolutely no influence on his vote to obliterate the constitutional rights of his constituents. 

The vote came on 6/20. The bill was H.R. 6304, FISA Amendments Act of 2008. This so-called “compromise” on FISA allows the federal government to conduct mass untargeted surveillance of all communications coming into or going out of the country without any need to seek court approval, even if there is no evidence of wrongdoing. In those circumstances where court review is required, where there is a specific target, a prior court order is not required and the courts are not allowed to know who is being targeted. They may only review general procedures for establishing targets. When a court rules against the government it will be allowed to continue spying while it exhausts all appeals. The measure allows no effective check to the power of the government to spy on Americans and no effective oversight regarding the manner in which it applies that power.

The gift to the telephone companies contained in the bill is the assurance it provides that all lawsuits pending from the companies’ illegal activities in support of the Bush spying program will be dismissed. It does this by changing the standard so that the companies are not required to have received a legal order – any order is fine. ATT, one of Peter Roskam’s largest campaign contributors, and Verizon, who’s lobbyist’s Jason Roe and Kirsten Mork have close ties to Roskam, are no doubt pleased by this provision. Maplight.org, a campaign finance watchdog group , found that those lawmakers who voted for the bill received, on average, twice the amount in donations from large telephone companies.

Roskam’s vote is just one more example of his consistent pattern of giving a “rubber stamp” of approval to the worst abuses of the Bush administration and of placing corporate interests over the interests of his constituents. Voters who care about civil liberties should contact Roskam to protest his vote. Roskam can be reached at his Washington office at (202) 225-4561 or in Bloomingdale at (630) 893-9670.

Before the FISA amendment becomes a law, it faces a vote in the Senate. That vote has been delayed until next month. Concerned voters should also contact Senators Durbin and Obama to pressure them to do the right thing and protect our civil liberties and deny immunity to the telephone companies that have broken the law.

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