Roshkam REP

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<a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/moc/peter-j-roskam">http://scorecard.lcv.org/moc/peter-j-roskam</a>

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam

Peter James Roskam (born September 13, 1961) is the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives" title="United States House of Representatives">U.S. Representative</a> for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois%27s_6th_congressional_district" title="Illinois's 6th congressional district">Illinois's 6th congressional district</a>, serving since 2007. He is a member of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_%28United_States%29" title="Republican Party (United States)">Republican Party</a>

and served as the Chief Deputy Majority Whip from 2011 to 2014, ranking

fourth among House Republican leaders. He has also served in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Senate" title="Illinois Senate">Illinois Senate</a> and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_House_of_Representatives" title="Illinois House of Representatives">Illinois House of Representatives</a>. He currently serves as Chairman of the House Ways and Means <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_Ways_and_Means_Subcommittee_on_Oversight" title="United States House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight">Subcommittee on Oversight</a>.

<h2>Contents</h2>

</div></div><div id="toc" class="toc">

<ul><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#Early_life.2C_education_and_career">1 Early life, education and career</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#Illinois_General_Assembly">2 Illinois General Assembly</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-3"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#U.S._House_of_Representatives">3 U.S. House of Representatives</a>

<ul><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-4"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#Committee_assignments">3.1 Committee assignments</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-5"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#House_Ethics_Probe">3.2 House Ethics Probe</a></li></ul>

</li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-6"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#Political_positions">4 Political positions</a>

<ul><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-7"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#Abortion">4.1 Abortion</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-8"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#Energy">4.2 Energy</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-9"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#Environment">4.3 Environment</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-10"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#Gun_rights">4.4 Gun rights</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-11"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#Healthcare">4.5 Healthcare</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-12"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#Immigration">4.6 Immigration</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-13"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#Iran">4.7 Iran</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-14"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#Iraq_War">4.8 Iraq War</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-15"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#Local_issues">4.9 Local issues</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-16"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#Qatar_terror_financing">4.10 Qatar terror financing</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-17"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#Social_Security_and_Medicare">4.11 Social Security and Medicare</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-18"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#Stem-cell_research">4.12 Stem-cell research</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-19"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#Taxes">4.13 Taxes</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-20"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#Other_positions">4.14 Other positions</a></li></ul>

</li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-21"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#Political_campaigns">5 Political campaigns</a>

</li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-28"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#Electoral_history">6 Electoral history</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-29"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#References">7 References</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-30"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#Further_reading">8 Further reading</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-31"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#External_links">9 External links</a></li></ul>

</div>

<h2>Early life, education and career</h2>

Roskam was born in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinsdale,Illinois" title="Hinsdale, Illinois">Hinsdale, Illinois</a>. He was the fourth of five children and was raised in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Ellyn,Illinois" title="Glen Ellyn, Illinois">Glen Ellyn, Illinois</a>, graduating from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenbard_West_High_School" title="Glenbard West High School">Glenbard West High School</a>. Roskam received his B.A. in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_science" title="Political science">political science</a> from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Illinois_at_Urbana-Champaign" title="University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign" class="mw-redirect">University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign</a> and his <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juris_Doctor" title="Juris Doctor">J.D.</a> from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago-Kent_College_of_Law" title="Chicago-Kent College of Law">Chicago-Kent College of Law</a>.

In 1984, Roskam taught history and government at All Saints High School in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St.Thomas,U.S._Virgin_Islands" title="St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands" class="mw-redirect">St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands</a>. From 1985 to 1986, Roskam served as a legislative assistant to Rep. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_DeLay" title="Tom DeLay">Tom DeLay</a> (R-TX),<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-congressbio-1">[1]</a> and from 1986 to 1987 as a legislative assistant to Rep. Hyde.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-congressbio-1">[1]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-RoskamBio-2">[2]</a>

In the late 1980s, Roskam served as the Executive Director of

Educational Assistance Ltd., a scholarship program for disadvantaged

children founded by his father in 1982.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-storyofeal-3">[3]</a> In 1992, Roskam was elected to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_House_of_Representatives" title="Illinois House of Representatives">Illinois House of Representatives</a>,

serving from 1993 to 1999. In 2000, he was appointed by DuPage County

Republican leaders to replace the retiring Beverly Fawell<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-4">[4]</a> in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_State_Senate" title="Illinois State Senate" class="mw-redirect">Illinois State Senate</a> where he served until his election to the U.S. House of Representatives. Roskam resides in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheaton,_Illinois" title="Wheaton, Illinois">Wheaton, Illinois</a> with his wife Elizabeth and their four children.

Roskam was a partner in the law firm <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Salvi" title="Al Salvi">Salvi</a>, Roskam & Maher, a personal injury firm. He was named "Best Oral Advocate" by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_College_of_Trial_Lawyers" title="American College of Trial Lawyers">American College of Trial Lawyers</a>. The firm, now called Salvi & Maher, is politically notable because former Republican Senate candidate <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Salvi" title="Al Salvi">Al Salvi</a> and former Republican House candidate Kathy Salvi are also partners in the firm. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Tribune" title="Chicago Tribune">Chicago Tribune</a> noted that Roskam earned over $615,000 in 2005 as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_injury_lawyer" title="Personal injury lawyer">personal injury trial lawyer</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-TribBlog-5">[5]</a>

After his parents took a trip to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam" title="Vietnam">Vietnam</a> and saw American veterans' <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_tag_%28identifier%29" title="Dog tag (identifier)" class="mw-redirect">dog tags</a>

for sale on the street, Roskam, along with his parents worked to return

the dog tags to their owners or the families of the deceased.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-6">[6]</a>

<h2>Illinois General Assembly</h2>

Roskam served in the Illinois General Assembly as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_House_of_Representatives" title="Illinois House of Representatives">Representative</a> from 1993 to 1998, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Senate" title="Illinois Senate">Senator</a> from 2000 to 2006. In the Senate, Roskam served as the Republican <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whip_%28politics%29" title="Whip (politics)">Whip</a>,

the Republican spokesman on the Executive Committee, and a member of

the Rules Committee, Environment and Energy Committee, Insurance and

Pensions Committee, and Judiciary Committee. In the Senate, Roskam

sponsored legislation giving the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_Illinois" title="Supreme Court of Illinois">Supreme Court of Illinois</a> authority to reverse a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_penalty" title="Death penalty" class="mw-redirect">death penalty</a>

sentence, has sponsored legislation increasing the penalties for repeat

D.U.I. offenders, and was the lead sponsor of a law to maintain courts'

power to hold <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadbeat_parent" title="Deadbeat parent">deadbeat parents</a> in contempt to ensure child support.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-RoskamBio-2">[2]</a> Roskam has authored or co-authored fourteen bills to cut taxes.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-7">[7]</a>

Roskam asked the Illinois <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comptroller" title="Comptroller">Comptroller</a>'s office for a list of state employees in 1998, when <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Salvi" title="Al Salvi">Al Salvi</a> was running for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Secretary_of_State" title="Illinois Secretary of State">Illinois Secretary of State</a> . At the time, Roskam told the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Tribune" title="Chicago Tribune">Chicago Tribune</a> that the request was for personal use. However, according to a report in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daily_Herald_%28Arlington_Heights%29" title="Daily Herald (Arlington Heights)">Arlington Heights Daily Herald</a>,

Roskam gave the list to Salvi, who used the list to send numbered

campaign fundraising tickets to state employees. The numbering allowed

the campaign to keep track of who contributed and who didn't.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-8">[8]</a>

In January 2005, Roskam fought amending the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Illinois_Human_Rights_Act&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Illinois Human Rights Act (page does not exist)">Illinois Human Rights Act</a> to include sexual orientation on the grounds that it would require churches and religious organizations to hire <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality" title="Homosexuality">homosexuals</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-9">[9]</a> However, the act contains an explicit exemption for churches and religious organizations.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-10">[10]</a> The Illinois Senate passed the amendment 30-27-1<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-11">[11]</a> and on January 1, 2006, Illinois became the 16th state to have such a law.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-12">[12]</a>

In November 2004, Roskam voted against State Comptroller <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Hynes" title="Daniel Hynes">Dan Hynes</a>'s $1 billion proposal to raise taxes on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmetic_surgery" title="Cosmetic surgery" class="mw-redirect">cosmetic surgery</a> to fund <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stem_cell" title="Stem cell">stem cell</a> research.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-13">[13]</a> The proposal was defeated 29-28-1 in the Illinois Senate.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-14">[14]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-15">[15]</a>

<h2>U.S. House of Representatives</h2>
Congressman Peter Roskam served as Chief Deputy Whip in the 112th Congress,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-16">[16]</a> ranking fourth among house Republican leaders.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-17">[17]</a>

He and Arizona Democrat <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabrielle_Giffords" title="Gabrielle Giffords">Gabrielle Giffords</a> were periodically interviewed together on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NPR" title="NPR">NPR</a>'s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Things_Considered" title="All Things Considered">All Things Considered</a> during their first term as to their experiences as freshmen members of Congress.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-18">[18]</a>

<h3>Committee assignments</h3>

<ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_Committee_on_Ways_and_Means" title="United States House Committee on Ways and Means">Committee on Ways and Means</a>

<ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_Ways_and_Means_Subcommittee_on_Oversight" title="United States House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight">Subcommittee on Oversight</a> (Chairman)</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_Ways_and_Means_Subcommittee_on_Income_Security_and_Family_Support" title="United States House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support" class="mw-redirect">Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support</a></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_Ways_and_Means_Subcommittee_on_Select_Revenue_Measures" title="United States House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures">Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures</a></li></ul>

</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_Select_Committee_on_the_Events_Surrounding_the_2012_Terrorist_Attack_in_Benghazi" title="House Select Committee on the Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attack in Benghazi" class="mw-redirect">House Select Committee on the Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attack in Benghazi</a></li></ul>

<h3>House Ethics Probe</h3>

On July 26, 2013, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_Committee_on_Ethics" title="United States House Committee on Ethics">House Committee on Ethics</a>

released a public statement that Roskam was under investigation by

Committee regarding allegations of a 2011 trip to Taiwan with his wife

that was improperly financed by the Taiwanese government.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-Parker01-19">[19]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-20">[20]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-21">[21]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-22">[22]</a> The case was closed in November 2013 citing "insufficient evidence" of wrongdoing.

<h2>Political positions</h2>

</div></div></div><div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:162px;"><div class="thumbcaption">

Roskam attends the opening of the first Hydrogen fueling station in Illinois.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-23">[23]</a></div>

</div>

</div>

<h3>Abortion</h3>

Roskam opposes <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion" title="Abortion">abortion</a> except in cases where the life of the mother is at risk, making no exceptions for cases of rape or incest.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-collegedebate-24">[24]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-25">[25]</a>

<h3>Energy</h3>

In March 2007, Roskam announced a $3 million <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_Energy" title="United States Department of Energy">Department of Energy</a> grant to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Des_Plaines,_Illinois" title="Des Plaines, Illinois">Des Plaines</a>-based <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_Technology_Institute" title="Gas Technology Institute">Gas Technology Institute</a> (GTI).<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-26">[26]</a>

In June 2007, Roskam supported a bill (H. R. 2619) to authorize $2.5

million per year for 2009-2011 to establish and operate an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol" title="Ethanol">ethanol</a> anti-idling power unit research program. Roskam noted that GTI would be eligible for the grant<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-27">[27]</a>

as would any other 501(c)(3) organization that "has performed

energy-related research". No further action was taken on the bill in

2007 after it was referred to Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation

in mid June.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-28">[28]</a>

Later, Roskam voted against legislation boosting automobile fuel

economy requirements to an industry average of 35 miles per gallon by

The bill also encouraged the use of renewable fuels.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-29">[29]</a>

On June 24, 2008, Roskam voted against H.R. 6346: The Federal Price

Gouging Prevention Act. The bill failed when it was voted on following a

suspension of normal rules to stop debate and it required a 2/3 vote to

pass.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-30">[30]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-31">[31]</a> Opponents of the bill said that price gouging is not widespread and that it is difficult to prove that it occurred.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-32">[32]</a> Roskam stated he voted against the bill as a protection of the free market.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-33">[33]</a>

Roskam, with Rep. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Shimkus" title="John Shimkus">John Shimkus</a>,

has proposed the Energy VISION Act that promises to all-but end

America's foreign energy addiction within 15 years. According to the

Baltimore Sun, "The plan mixes conservation and alternative fuel

production with aggressive domestic energy exploration, including

drilling offshore and in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_National_Wildlife_Refuge" title="Arctic National Wildlife Refuge">Arctic National Wildlife Refuge</a> and opening vast swaths of land to oil shale development." <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-34">[34]</a>

<h3>Environment</h3>

In 2006, Roskam called climate science "junk science".<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-35">[35]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-36">[36]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-37">[37]</a> In 2013, the League of Conservation Voters gave Roskam an environmental rating of 4%, and a lifetime rating of 10%.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-38">[38]</a> In 2005, he received a 67% rating from the Illinois Environmental Council. In 2004 he scored 100%, while in 2003 he scored 40%.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-39">[39]</a>

<h3>Gun rights</h3>

Roskam sponsored an Illinois state Senate bill which would have allowed retired military and police personnel to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrying_concealed_weapon" title="Carrying concealed weapon" class="mw-redirect">carry concealed weapons</a>. He has gained <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Rifle_Association" title="National Rifle Association">National Rifle Association</a> (NRA) endorsement for being a supporter of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_rights" title="Gun rights">gun rights</a>. On July 15, 2006, Roskam was the featured guest at an NRA support rally for him in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addison,_Illinois" title="Addison, Illinois">Addison, Illinois</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-40">[40]</a>

<h3>Healthcare</h3>

In his first year in Congress, Roskam secured "more than $50 million

federal dollars…to expand health care facilities and programs and

improve traffic congestion." This included $195,000 to fund the

expansion of the new emergency room at Adventist GlenOaks Hospital in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glendale_Heights,Illinois" title="Glendale Heights, Illinois">Glendale Heights</a> and $243,000 to expand mental health programs at the Access Community Health Network’s Martin T. Russo Family Health Center in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomingdale,Illinois" title="Bloomingdale, Illinois">Bloomingdale</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-41">[41]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-42">[42]</a>

On September 25, 2007, Roskam voted with the majority of his party against expanding the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Children%27s_Health_Insurance_Program" title="State Children's Health Insurance Program">State Children's Health Insurance Program</a>.

This bill would have increased funding for the program to $60 billion

over the next five years and provided health insurance for 9 million

uninsured American children (including those whose families made up to

$83,000 a year and had access to insurance through their jobs). The bill

passed Congress but was vetoed by President Bush.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-43">[43]</a>

<h3>Immigration</h3>

In interviews on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Public_Radio" title="National Public Radio" class="mw-redirect">National Public Radio</a>, Roskam stated his opposition to the Senate's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comprehensive_Immigration_Reform_Act_of_2007" title="Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007">Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007</a> and stated support for the House <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration" title="Immigration">immigration</a> reform bill, H.R. 4437 the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border_Protection,Anti-terrorism,and_Illegal_Immigration_Control_Act_of_2005" title="Border Protection, Anti-terrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005" class="mw-redirect">Border Protection, Anti-terrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005</a>. During the interviews he claimed his constituency did not support amnesty and wanted stronger border security.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-44">[44]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-tribunecommonground-45">[45]</a>

Roskam has been one of the most outspoken voices in the House against

Iran's nuclear weapons programs. On September 8, 2015, Roskam

introduced a question of the privileges of the House in an attempt to

delay a vote of disapproval, citing the Obama administration's failure

to provide Congress with "side agreements" between the IAEA and Iran. On

September 9, 2015, House Republicans embraced Roskam's proposal in a

reversal that represented discontent among Members with voting for a

planned disapproval resolution that President Obama vowed to veto.

Instead, Republican leadership deferred to Roskam and decided to vote

instead on a measure to approve the Iran deal, which the House would

reject, as well as legislation to prohibit President Obama from lifting

economic sanctions on Iran and a sense of Congress stating that the

Obama administration violated the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act by

not transmitting the "side agreements" between Iran and the IAEA.

On September 21, 2006, Roskam said that the U.S. should "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stay_the_course" title="Stay the course">stay the course</a>" and that U.S. troops should not return home until Iraq is safe.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-46">[46]</a> He criticized his opponent <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammy_Duckworth" title="Tammy Duckworth">Tammy Duckworth</a> (an Iraq veteran)'s views on withdrawal, saying "the Sixth District is not a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cut_and_run" title="Cut and run">cut-and-run</a>

district." On October 23, 2006, Roskam said it was a mistake the U.S.

didn't go in with full force in Iraq. Later, Roskam expressed support

for quarterly status reports to Congress on Iraqi troop training.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-47">[47]</a>

Roskam supported the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War_troop_surge_of_2007" title="Iraq War troop surge of 2007">2007 escalation</a>

in troops in Iraq, saying, "There are encouraging reports coming out of

Iraq that Baghdad is becoming more secure, and the insurgency is being

mitigated. This is a pivotal time. Iraqis need to seize this opportunity

to provide security for themselves so we can begin to reduce our troop

numbers on the ground."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-48">[48]</a>

<h3>Local issues</h3>

According to his website, Roskam opposes plans to expand <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O%27Hare_International_Airport" title="O'Hare International Airport">O'Hare International Airport</a>, and instead favors building a third regional airport in Chicago's southern suburbs.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-49">[49]</a> However, O'Hare expansion begun during Roskam's tenure and the new runway opened in 2008.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-airportTechOHare-50">[50]</a>

On July 1, 2008, Roskam announced plans to introduce legislation preventing the acquisition of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elgin,Joliet_and_Eastern_Railway" title="Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway">EJ&E Railway</a> by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_National_Railway" title="Canadian National Railway">CN Railway</a> by designating "a 36-mile stretch of the EJ&E as a Corridor for Inter-Suburban Commuter Rail" for use in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metra" title="Metra">Metra</a>'s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suburban_Transit_Access_Route%28Metra%29" title="Suburban Transit Access Route (Metra)" class="mw-redirect">STAR line</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-51">[51]</a> Roskam introduced H.R. 6476 on July 10, 2008 with co-sponsors <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Biggert" title="Judy Biggert">Judy Biggert</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_A._Manzullo" title="Donald A. Manzullo" class="mw-redirect">Donald A. Manzullo</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-52">[52]</a> Roskam claims this would be the nation's first suburb to suburb <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commuter_rail" title="Commuter rail">commuter rail</a> line.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-53">[53]</a>

Roskam adamantly opposes <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama" title="Barack Obama">President Obama</a>'s planned relocation of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamo_Bay_detention_camp" title="Guantanamo Bay detention camp">Guantanamo Bay detention camp</a> inmates to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomson_Correctional_Center" title="Thomson Correctional Center">Thomson Correctional Center</a> in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thompson,_Illinois" title="Thompson, Illinois" class="mw-redirect">Thompson, Illinois</a>, calling it "a misguided decision that will ultimately be regretted."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-54">[54]</a>

<h3>Qatar terror financing</h3>

Roskam wants the U.S. government to hold accountable Qatar for its

support of Hamas. He has appealed to the Obama Administration for

support. Roskam joins the U.S. Treasury Department in his criticism.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-55">[55]</a>

On July 31, 2014, Roskam joined Secretary of State <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kerry" title="John Kerry">John Kerry</a> and Treasury Secretary <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Lew" title="Jack Lew">Jack Lew</a> to urge the Obama Administration to end the United States partnership with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar" title="Qatar">Qatar</a>. Roskam, Kerry and Lew cited Qatar’s support of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas" title="Hamas">Hamas</a> as one of the primary reasons.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-56">[56]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-57">[57]</a>

On August 2, 2013, Roskam and Congressman John Barrow (D-GA) authored

a letter, signed by a total of 24 Members of Congress to Qatari

Ambassador Mahamed Bin Abdulla Al-Rumaihi. The letter took Qatar to task

for expanding its diplomatic and economic relations with Hamas. Roskam

said, “Ignoring Qatar’s funding of Hamas sets a dangerous precedent of

giving our allies a free pass on openly supporting terrorism. The United

States must take an unequivocal stand against any country’s actions

that enable extremists like Hamas to murder innocent people.” Roskam

cited an article published by The New York Times, which accused Qatar’s emir of pledging $400 million in financial aid to Hamas in October 2012.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-hamas-58">[58]</a>

In December 2014, Roskam and Sherman requested new sanctions on Qatar

in a letter to Secretary of Treasury Jack Lew. They also asked for a

detailed accounting of public and private financing from within Qatar

for Hamas, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Qaeda" title="Al-Qaeda">Al-Qaeda</a>, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_State_of_Iraq_and_the_Levant" title="Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant">Islamic State</a>, and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Nusra_Front" title="Al-Nusra Front">al-Nusra Front</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-59">[59]</a>

<h3>Social Security and Medicare</h3>

On May 20, 2005, Roskam and six other Illinois senators missed a vote

in the Illinois Senate on a non-binding resolution urging the United

States Congress to protect <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Security%28United_States%29" title="Social Security (United States)">Social Security</a> and reject private accounts. The resolution passed 32-19-1, but no action was taken in the Illinois House.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-60">[60]</a> Roskam has said in a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WBBM%28AM%29" title="WBBM (AM)">WBBM</a>

post debate press conference, "I am against privatizing Social

Security, I am against raising taxes for Social Security benefits, and

I'm against benefit reductions for Social Security.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-61">[61]</a>

According to a direct mailing by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Republican_Congressional_Committee" title="National Republican Congressional Committee">National Republican Congressional Committee</a> (NRCC), Peter Roskam will protect Social Security by opposing any plans that reduce benefits. Roskam told <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hill_%28newspaper%29" title="The Hill (newspaper)">The Hill</a>

that he opposes any measures that would add private savings accounts or

slice up the current program to create a private account. However,

Roskam responded to a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Taxpayers_Union" title="National Taxpayers Union">National Taxpayers Union</a>

questionnaire stating he would "work and vote for Social Security

Choice that will allow younger workers to have the choice of investing

much of their Social Security taxes in regulated individual retirement

accounts."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-62">[62]</a>

On January 12, 2007, Roskam voted with the majority of his party

against the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act, which

would require the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretary_of_Health_and_Human_Services" title="Secretary of Health and Human Services" class="mw-redirect">Secretary of Health and Human Services</a> to negotiate lower covered <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicare_Part_D" title="Medicare Part D">Part D</a> drug prices on behalf of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicare_%28United_States%29" title="Medicare (United States)">Medicare</a> beneficiaries.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-63">[63]</a>

<h3>Stem-cell research</h3>

Roskam supports <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adult_stem_cell" title="Adult stem cell">adult</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cord_blood" title="Cord blood">umbilical cord</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stem_cell" title="Stem cell">stem cell</a> research.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-64">[64]</a> Roskam has argued against <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embryonic_stem_cell" title="Embryonic stem cell">embryonic stem cell</a> research in the Illinois Senate, even if privately funded,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-StemCellDebate-65">[65]</a> and voted against the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act in Congress.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-66">[66]</a>

<h3>Taxes</h3>

Roskam advocates making permanent the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-67">[67]</a>

and has sponsored or cosponsored fourteen pieces of legislation for

lower taxes, including child tax credits and reducing the income tax,

and has stated support for a research and development tax credit. As an

Illinois General Assembly legislator, Roskam authored and supported

several pieces of tax reduction legislation.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-68">[68]</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americans_for_Tax_Reform" title="Americans for Tax Reform">Americans for Tax Reform</a> named Roskam "Hero of the Taxpayer" in 2005 for his opposition to HB-755<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-69">[69]</a> which would have raised income and sales taxes by 67% or nearly $7 billion.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-ipireport-70">[70]</a>

In 2010 Roskam signed a pledge sponsored by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americans_for_Prosperity" title="Americans for Prosperity">Americans for Prosperity</a> promising to vote against any Global Warming legislation that would raise taxes.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-71">[71]</a>

<h3>Other positions</h3>

Roskam helped to pass the Safe American Roads Act of 2007, which prohibits the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Department_of_Transportation" title="U.S. Department of Transportation" class="mw-redirect">U.S. Department of Transportation</a>

from granting Mexican trucks access beyond the U.S./Mexico commercial

zone until the department complies with the safety and security

regulations Congress has already enacted.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-72">[72]</a>

Roskam also supports the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment" title="Capital punishment">death penalty</a>, opposes <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage" title="Same-sex marriage">same-sex marriage</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_union" title="Civil union">civil unions</a>,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-73">[73]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-74">[74]</a> and supports allowing the use of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earmark_%28finance%29" title="Earmark (finance)" class="mw-redirect">earmarks</a> in federal budgeting.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-75">[75]</a>

Roskam has consistently voted for lawsuit reform, and has been endorsed by pro-tort reform organizations <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-76">[76]</a> During a 1995 push for tort reform in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_General_Assembly" title="Illinois General Assembly">Illinois General Assembly</a>,

Roskam voted for the reform measure despite promises to the contrary.

Terrence Lavin, a member of the Illinois Bar Association who became its

president in 2003, said that <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Salvi" title="Al Salvi">Al Salvi</a> and Roskam promised, "We will never, ever vote for tort reform", when they solicited a $25,000 donation to a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_action_committee" title="Political action committee">political action committee</a>. Roskam later reimbursed much of the money collected after he voted to support the reforms.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-TribBlog-5">[5]</a>

He supports <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominican_Republic-Central_America_Free_Trade_Agreement" title="Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement" class="mw-redirect">CAFTA</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-supportsdatabase-77">[77]</a>

In November 2006, Roskam expressed opposition to raising the national

minimum wage from $5.15 per hour, referring to possible effect on small

businesses,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-78">[78]</a> and voted against a bill to increase the national <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_wage" title="Minimum wage">minimum wage</a> from $5.15 to $7.25 per hour over two years in Congress.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-79">[79]</a>

Roskam is a staunch advocate of a federal prohibition of online <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poker" title="Poker">poker</a>.

In 2008, he opposed H.R. 5767, the Payment Systems Protection Act (a

bill that sought to place a moratorium on enforcement of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unlawful_Internet_Gambling_Enforcement_Act" title="Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act" class="mw-redirect">Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act</a> while the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Treasury_Department" title="U.S. Treasury Department" class="mw-redirect">U.S. Treasury Department</a> and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Reserve" title="Federal Reserve" class="mw-redirect">Federal Reserve</a> defined "unlawful Internet gambling").[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed">citation needed</a>]

<h2>Political campaigns</h2>

<div role="note" class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections,_1998#Illinois" title="United States House of Representatives elections, 1998">United States House of Representatives elections, 1998 § Illinois</a></div>

Roskam ran for Congress in 1998 in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois%27_13th_congressional_district" title="Illinois' 13th congressional district" class="mw-redirect">Illinois' 13th congressional district</a> to replace retiring Congressman <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harris_W._Fawell" title="Harris W. Fawell">Harris W. Fawell</a>, but lost in the Republican primary to state Representative <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Biggert" title="Judy Biggert">Judy Biggert</a>, who went on to win the general election. Roskam received 40% of the vote to Biggert's 45%.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-80">[80]</a>

In 1999, at Biggert's request, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Election_Commission" title="Federal Election Commission">Federal Election Commission</a> (FEC) investigated a mailing sent out by a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_action_committee" title="Political action committee">political action committee</a>

(PAC), the Campaign for Working Families (CWF), in support of Peter

Roskam. The FEC did not find the Roskam campaign at fault, but CWF was

found to have violated election law. The PAC was led by conservative

activist <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Bauer" title="Gary Bauer">Gary Bauer</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-81">[81]</a>

<h3>2006</h3>
In March 2006, Roskam, running unopposed, won the Republican nomination to attempt to fill Henry Hyde's open seat.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-RoskamBio-2">[2]</a> His opponent in the November general election was an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War" title="Iraq War">Iraq War</a> veteran, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party%28United_States%29" title="Democratic Party (United States)">Democrat</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammy_Duckworth" title="Tammy Duckworth">Tammy Duckworth</a>. Hyde endorsed Roskam. The competitive race was called "the nation's most-watched congressional contest" by Eric Krol of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daily_Herald%28Arlington_Heights%29" title="Daily Herald (Arlington Heights)">Daily Herald</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-most-watched-82">[82]</a> The candidates debated on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WTTW" title="WTTW">WTTW</a>/Channel 11 (October 23), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Public_Radio" title="Chicago Public Radio" class="mw-redirect">WBEZ radio</a> (October 19), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WBBM_%28AM%29" title="WBBM (AM)">WBBM radio</a> (September 24), and at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_of_DuPage" title="College of DuPage">College of DuPage</a> (12 October).<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-83">[83]</a>

Roskam was endorsed by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teamsters" title="Teamsters" class="mw-redirect">Teamsters</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_union" title="Labor union" class="mw-redirect">labor union</a>,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-84">[84]</a> The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Union_of_Operating_Engineers" title="International Union of Operating Engineers">International Union of Operating Engineers</a> Local 150, and The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_of_Foreign_Wars" title="Veterans of Foreign Wars">Veterans of Foreign Wars</a>. On November 7, 2006, Roskam defeated Duckworth by a margin of 51% to 49%.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-85">[85]</a>

<div role="note" class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_Illinois,_2008#District_6" title="United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 2008">United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 2008 § District 6</a></div>

In March, 2008, Roskam was again nominated to run for the IL-6 seat in the Republican Primary. He was opposed by Democrat <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jill_Morgenthaler" title="Jill Morgenthaler">Jill Morgenthaler</a>.

In late October, The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Roskam

launched a new website at ObamaVotersForRoskam.com. The website

displayed a fragment of a quotation from Democratic Presidential

front-runner <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama" title="Barack Obama">Barack Obama</a> which seemed to indicate that Obama admires Roskam.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-86">[86]</a>

The portion of the Obama quotation omitted by Roskam goes: "Having said

that, have I said that he's wrong? I love him, but he's wrong." The Daily Herald called the website a "... move to grab a hold of Obama's coattails ..."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-87">[87]</a> The TV show <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardball_with_Chris_Matthews" title="Hardball with Chris Matthews">Hardball with Chris Matthews</a> featured a segment on Roskam's website.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-88">[88]</a> The Morgenthaler campaign pointed out that Obama supports Morgenthaler, not Roskam.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-89">[89]</a> However, Roskam won re-election, by a 16% margin (58% to 42%).<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-90">[90]</a>

<div role="note" class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_Illinois,_2010#District_6.2A" title="United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 2010">United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 2010 § District 6*</a></div>

Peter Roskam defeated Democratic nominee Ben Lowe by a 27% margin in the 2010 midterm election.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-91">[91]</a>

<div role="note" class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_Illinois,_2012#District_6" title="United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 2012">United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 2012 § District 6</a></div>

Roskam defeated Democratic nominee Leslie Coolidge, a former partner at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KPMG" title="KPMG">KPMG</a> by an 18.4% margin in the 2012 election.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-92">[92]</a>

<div role="note" class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_Illinois,_2014#District_6" title="United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 2014">United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 2014 § District 6</a></div>

Roskam defeated Democratic nominee Michael Mason, a retired postal manager by a 34% margin in the 2014 general election.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Roskam#cite_note-2014election-93">[93]</a>
==
<div class="content-list-component text">

UPDATE: April 28 — The

legislation passed out of the Ways and Means Committee on a party line

vote with all Republicans in support and Democrats in opposition. Prior

to the vote, committee members were sent <a data-beacon="{" p="p" mnid="mnid" entry_text="entry_text" lnid="lnid" citation="citation" mpid="mpid" href="http://democrats.waysandmeans.house.gov/sites/democrats.waysandmeans.house.gov/files/documents/Koch%20bros%20letter.pdf" target="_blank">another letter in support of the bill</a>.

This letter came from Phillip Ellender, president of Koch Public

Sector, the official lobbying and PR arm of the Koch brothers.

PREVIOUSLY:

WASHINGTON — Republicans in Congress are trying to decrease the

already scant amount of disclosure for politically-active nonprofits —

known as dark money groups. The legislative effort is unsurprisingly

supported by the main political arm of the billionaire brothers Charles

and David Koch.

Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) is <a data-beacon="{" p="p" mnid="mnid" entry_text="entry_text" lnid="lnid" citation="citation" mpid="mpid" href="https://philanthropynewyork.org/news/congressman-roskam-expected-introduce-donor-disclosure-legislation#.VyDZg4vIT0U.twitter" target="_blank">expected to introduce a bill</a>

in the Ways and Means Committee that would eliminate the requirement

for nonprofits to make a non-public disclosure of their donors to the

IRS when they file their annual tax forms. The donor disclosures — known

as the Schedule B report — are not released to the public, but the list

of donation amounts with the donor names redacted are released.

The bill is supported by Freedom

Partners Chamber of Commerce, the dark money donor hub run by the Koch

brothers. The Kochs operate a vast political empire that mostly operates

through nonprofit organizations that do not disclose their donations.

“This bill is an important first step

toward reaffirming Americans’ right to free speech while protecting

them from threats and intimidation because of their personal beliefs,”

Mark Holden, Freedom Partners chairman and lead lobbyist for Koch

Industries, <a data-beacon="{" p="p" mnid="mnid" entry_text="entry_text" lnid="lnid" citation="citation" mpid="mpid" href="http://freedompartners.org/newsroom/freedom-partners-supports-legislation-prevent-irs-abuse-protect-free-speech/" target="_blank">said in a statement</a>.

Roskam’s legislation comes amid a

court case involving the donor list of another Koch brothers outfit,

Americans for Prosperity Foundation. California attorney general Kamala

Harris had sought the donor list of the organization for non-public

review to ensure that it was abiding by California laws. A federal

court, however, agreed on April 21 with Americans for Prosperity

Foundation’s argument that this was a <a data-beacon="{" p="p" mnid="mnid" entry_text="entry_text" lnid="lnid" citation="citation" mpid="mpid" href="http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac-koch-brothers-group-donors-kamala-harris-20160421-story.html" target="_blank">violation of its First Amendment rights</a>.

Campaign finance reform and transparency proponents issued <a data-beacon="{" p="p" mnid="mnid" entry_text="entry_text" lnid="lnid" citation="citation" mpid="mpid" href="http://www.democracy21.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Final-Reform-Group-Letter-House-4-27-16.pdf" target="_blank">a letter</a>

calling on members of the Ways and Means Committee to oppose Roskam’s

bill. Those backing the letter include Brennan Center for Justice,

Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause, CREW, Democracy 21, Public Citizen,

Sunlight Foundation and Rootstrikers.

“Eliminating the existing requirement

for disclosure to the IRS of donations to 501(c)(4) “social welfare”

groups would open the door wide for secret, unaccountable money from

foreign governments, foreign corporations and foreign individuals to be

illegally laundered into federal elections through 501(c)(4) groups,”

the letter reads.</div>
=