February 2009

News

2.25.09-Suburban lawmakers see hope in Obama's speech
Daily Herald - While he faced "boos," grunts and groans at times from the GOP side of the House chamber, Republican U.S. representatives Mark Kirk of Highland Park, Peter Roskam of Wheaton, Don Manzullo of the Rockford area and Judy Biggert of Hinsdale said they were encouraged by elements of the new president's ambitious agenda. >>Read More

2.24.09-Could the GOP Pick Off a Senate Seat in Illinois?
Real Clear Politics - Peter Roskam's Press Secretary, Matt Vriesema stood strong on the issue, telling RealClearPolitics, "We didn't have to be in this situation. They could've taken care of this months ago and had a special election then. Now we have an embattled Senator with no pull there, leaving our state with one Senator." >>Read More

2.23.09-Salmonella Outbreak Prompts Tougher Law Proposal
CBS 2 - There is a new push Monday night to protect you and your family from potentially dangerous food. This comes after a nationwide salmonella scare may have killed nine people, and sickened hundreds of others. CBS 2's Mike Parker reports two Illinois congressmen are fighting to make sure something like this never happens again. >>Read More

2.23.09-Food banks toss donations due to salmonella outbreak
ABC 7 - Congressmen Peter Roskam and Mark Kirk recently reintroduced legislation to secure our nation's food system. This comes on the heels of the salmonella outbreak surrounding the distribution of contaminated peanut butter resulting in the deaths of nine people and sickening more than 600. >>Read More

2.20.09-GOP reps Roskam, Kirk eyeing Senate seat
Sun-Times - Like Obama, Kirk and Roskam represent generational change. They're both sharp and energetic and making names for themselves in political circles and in Washington, where The Hill newspaper called Roskam the "most up-and-coming member of Congress." >>Read More

2.17.09-Obama Road Show Panned in Peoria
Chicago Tribune - Particularly ironic, Roskam said, is the fact that the creation of significant numbers of jobs at Caterpillar “wouldn’t cost the taxpayers a cent,” when Obama’s stimulus package would cost almost $800 billion upfront. Moreover, job creation is a certain result of the free trade pact, but no one can be certain about the beneficial impact of the stimulus’ spending free-for-all. >>Read More

2.13.09-Gutierrez, Roskam See Colombia FTA As No-Cost Stimulus to U.S. Economy
BNA - Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) and former Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez Feb. 12 called for quick congressional passage of the stalled U.S.-Colombia free trade agreement, saying it would provide the U.S. economy a free stimulus in the form of expanded exports. >>Read More

2.12.09-Obama in Peoria: Workers still worried
Chicago Tribune - "That's the irony of the White House choosing to go to Caterpillar," Roskam said. "It really does beg the question: How about a trade policy that takes a $100,000 burden off of every major piece of equipment cat sells?" >>Read More

2.7.09-New York Times: Obama’s Balancing Act on U.S. Trade Policies
Mr. Obama was also pressed on trade in his recent public meeting with House Republicans — but from the opposite direction. Representative Peter Roskam of Illinois blamed Democratic resistance in Congress for blocking the “no-cost job creation” that those pending trade deals would bring, and asked the president whether he would work with Republicans to push those deals through. >>Read More

Press Releases

2.13.09-ROSKAM STATEMENT ON PASSAGE OF ECONOMIC STIMULUS SPENDING BILL
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2.12.09-Roskam Advances Underage Smoking Prevention Legislation
>>Read More