IL-6

Roskam Continues To Peddle Offshore Drilling Lie

Adam Doster — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 08:28:26 -0700

While touting his and Rep. John Shimkus' Energy VISION Act amid the first wave of the Republicans' "Drill Baby Drill" hysteria in July, GOP Rep. Peter Roskam grossly misrepresented how much oil was available on the Outer Continental Shelf, as we documented at the time:

[Roskam and Shimkus'] press release states that extending offshore drilling to the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) would replace 2.4 million barrels per day that we currently import. Their source for this projection is the U.S Energy Information Agency (EIA), which recently released a report examining how drilling in the OCS would affect production.

But curiously, the EIA estimated that opening up the OCS would only increase production by about 200,000 barrels a day and "would not have a significant impact on domestic crude oil and natural gas production or prices before 2030."

There's a big difference between 2.4 million and 200,000. So where did the GOP congressmen get the larger number? It appears that they took the total amount of offshore production once the OCS is opened up -- including the 2.2 million barrels a day already being extracted by offshore rigs here in the U.S.

Fast forward two months and Roskam appears to be peddling the same faulty math. This time, it's in an email to supporters (emphasis added):

Drilling for American oil is just the first step. The outer continental shelf has enough oil and gas to get us off foreign oil while we pursue cleaner, sustainable technologies.

Again, drilling offshore will not provide a short-term respite to oil prices, let alone replace 2.4 million of the nine million barrels of oil imported by the U.S. every day. If Roskam is going to keep exaggerating in this fashion, it'd be nice to see a reporter press him on the details.

Debating The Debates

Josh Kalven — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:40:09 -0700

Lots of congressional debate news this week, so let's run through it all.

First, 11th District GOP candidate Marty Ozinga is complaining about the choice of Southtown Star columnist Kristen McQueary as the moderator of a September 25 debate between he and Democrat Debbie Halvorson. From a campaign press release posted by Capitol Fax:

It would be hard to imagine a presidential debate moderated by MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann. Similarly, we cannot imagine a congressional debate moderated by Kristen McQueary. [...]

We propose one of two options to rectify this problem: 1) for balance, have fellow Southtown Star opinion columnist Fran Eaton to serve as the comoderator with Mrs. McQueary; OR 2) have an objective news reporter familiar with the race, such as the Joliet Herald News’ Patrick Ferrell, to serve as the sole moderator.

Rich Miller effectively skewers the Ozinga's campaign suggestion that McQueary needs to balanced by a right-wing figure such as Eaton. He concludes: "What a buncha whiners."

Meanwhile, in the 6th Congressional District, GOP Rep. Peter Roskam has apparently refused to debate Democratic challenger Jill Morgenthaler. From a press release:

Morgenthaler said, “Peter Roskam likes to talk to voters in his pre-scripted 'virtual town halls' but will not answer the hard questions on his record or on the issues. I have agreed to every debate and joint appearance request that has come our way, and Peter Roskam has continued to hide. This is a critical year and the voters of the 6th District deserve the opportunity to hear where the candidates stand on the issues that affect their day-to-day lives.”

To date, Roskam, has refused to appear with Colonel Morgenthaler in any venue.

The release goes on to point out that, during his 2006 race for the open 6th District seat, Roskam accused then-Democratic candidate Tammy Duckworth of ducking several community debates. Duckworth did agree to four debates with Roskam prior to Election Day that year.

Finally, Sen. Dick Durbin and GOP challenger Steve Sauerberg have agreed to two debates: one on October 6 on WTTW's Chicago Tonight and the other on October 9 at Knox College.

Morgenthaler Among Victims Of Chicagoland Floods

Josh Kalven — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 14:17:46 -0700

Democrat Jill Morgenthaler's 6th District congressional campaign just sent out an email letting supporters know that her home -- like many along the Des Plaines River -- was flooded yesterday (see pictures above), forcing her and her family to spend the night elsewhere. Campaign manager Julie Kerouac wrote: "Just as we are all relieved to know that Jill and her family are safe, so too are our thoughts and prayers with those in Texas who were struck much more heavily by Hurricane Ike."

Meanwhile, Cook County Board President Todd Stroger has declared a state of emergency in all of the county and was scheduled to hold a press conference on the matter in Des Plaines at 4 pm. Earlier today, Des Plaines officials recommended a voluntary evacuation for all residents. Evacuations were also recommended in Riverside, Glenview, Addison, and the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago. "I have never seen flooding like this," Albany Park resident Babu Daniel told the Tribune.

The rain measurement at O'Hare Airport yesteday was a record-breaking 6.63 inches yesterday.

A Deep Bench

Adam Doster — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 08:14:00 -0700

I understand the need to be diplomatic, but this is ridiculous. When asked by the Daily Herald's Joseph Ryan who the future leaders of Illinois' Republican Party could be, 6th District Congressman Peter Roskam decided to forgo specifics:

PR: If you go through the Senate Republican ranks, there is an unbelievable amount of talent there. When folks talk about a statewide bench, there is amazing talent in the Illinois Senate - bright people, principled, hard working and articulate. They have not had the level of exposure, but this year, you are going to see some of those folks emerge in the future. They are all rock stars.

DH: Would you care to name a few?

PR: No. If I do, I might leave someone out and they would get mad at me.

When asked the same question, 10th District GOP Rep. Mark Kirk was just as obtuse:

It will not be difficult to put forward a candidate. We are in the middle of a Shakespearean meltdown of the Democratic party. I think voters are ready for anybody but the people who participated in the meltdown. I don't want to name any names. But there are some people out there who have built up a good reputation.

And who said this party is fresh out of ideas?

Roskam's Trip To Washington

Adam Doster — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:13:26 -0700

On Sunday, Rep. Peter Roskam and his family decided to forgo their scheduled family vacation and instead headed east to Washington, DC, where a group of House Republicans were gathering to protest what they have termed the "Pelosi shutdown" -- the decision by Democrats to adjourn for August recess without first voting on offshore drilling legislation.

Yesterday, Roskam called into WLS' Don Wade & Roma to discuss his impromptu trip. After lauding him for his effort -- even thanking him for "helping America's families" by moving the energy debate forward -- the radio hosts assisted Roskam in obscuring some crucial facts about the drilling proposal. For instance, listen to this exchange:

Internal mp3

ROSKAM: Our desire is to move a holistic energy policy forward. There is an understanding that were not simply going to drill our way out of this, but you’ve got to pursue those sources of energy in the short-run.

But if we can't "drill our way out of this" energy crisis, as Roskam acknowledges, why should we devote resources to expanded offshore drilling? Why not instead focus most of our energies -- and taxpayer dollars -- on developing sustainable, alternative sources of energy?

Curiously absent from the 11-minute discussion on WLS was any mention of timeframes -- with one exception. During the above clip, Roskam appeared to suggest that increased drilling will help lower gas prices "in the short-run."

But a recent report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration predicted we wouldn’t see “a significant impact” on gas prices until 2030. No economist from any ideological position disputes this point. So unless Roskam equates "20-plus years" with "short term," he's being highly misleading.

Of course, it's possible that extra drilling could provide a psychological boost to traders on the oil futures market, which in turn could lead to a reduction in price in the short-run. But that's not the case Roskam is making. And even if he was, there are plenty of other steps Congress could take to ease market concerns. In fact, there are also other ways Congress could provide immediate assistance to cash-strapped drivers. David Robert's outlines a few ideas here, including "everything from direct tax rebates to bumps in the EITC to expansions of healthcare coverage."

What often gets clouded over in the drilling debate is that we're chasing a finite resource. The cost of oil, like all fossil fuels, is going to keep rising regardless of the degree to which we expand exploration. By relentlessly and disingenuously pursuing a policy that won't control costs in the near future, and repeatedly blocking forward-thinking energy legislation, Republicans like Roskam are ensuring that American families will lose out where it counts: in the long-run.

"Men In Caves"

Josh Kalven — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 08:10:49 -0700

In an interview with Roll Call (subscription required), GOP Rep. Peter Roskam demonstrates his view of Arabs:

In 2006, he faced wounded Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth (D), who garnered national and international media attention. Arabic news network Al-Jazeera even traveled to the district to cover the campaign.

“What do men in caves in Pakistan care about this campaign?” Roskam remembers thinking.

Defending His Opposition To Housing Bill, Roskam Fearmongers

Adam Doster — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:38:29 -0700

The big news out of Washington yesterday was the passage of a far-reaching housing rescue bill by the House. While President Bush initially opposed a section of the bill that would appropriate nearly $4 billion in grants for local governments to buy and refurbish foreclosed properties, he eventually relented, clearing the way for the bill's passage. But 149 congressional Republicans, many citing the rehab funds as a major sticking point, voted nay.

Among this group was 6th District Rep. Peter Roskam, who explained that he opposed the bill out of the fear that Gov. Rod Blagojevich will have too much control over the federally-funded Illinois projects. "Do you want Rod Blagojevich to be your landlord?" Roskam asked in a statement released by his campaign last night.

But how much control will Blagojevich actually have? As it turns out, not very much.

The $3.9 billion earmarked for the purchase and rehabilitation of foreclosed properties in communities hit particularly hard by foreclosure will be distributed through Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). Administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), CDBG's work like this: for metropolitan cities with populations of at least 50,000, known in HUD terminology as "entitlement communities," local governments apply directly to the federal government and then develop their own programs and funding priorities. Communities with a population of less than 50,000 -- which would include various suburbs in DuPage County -- apply for what is known as a "State Administered CDBG."

Essentially, once a state decides it wants to participate in the program, it solicits applications from local government authorities. State officials then decide how to distribute funds among communities in non-entitlement areas and ensure that recipient communities comply with applicable state and federal laws and requirements, but they have no hand in running the programs. That responsibility rests on local officials, who must "consider local needs ... and carry out the funded community development activities." While the state can accept some administrative and technical assistance expenses, they may not exceed three percent of the total allocation.

In short, Rod and his cohorts in Springfield are responsible for distributing funds to small communities based on a comprehensive application process created by the federal government. But it is those local governments -- not the state -- that will purchase and manage the properties in question.

To be sure, this housing bill is not a perfect piece of legislation. The provision using taxpayer dollars to rescue Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae shareholders -- and without implementing limits on executive compensation -- is nothing more than a massive corporate bailout for unwise investors. But Roskam raises none of those legitimate critiques.

Instead, he attempts to criticize Blagojevich, Bush, and congressional Democrats in one fell swoop through a vapid statement that doesn't stand up to much scrutiny. In doing so, he shows either a basic misunderstanding of the bill or a severe distrust of local Illinois governments to address the foreclosure crisis in their communities, which is only getting worse with each passing day.

Morgenthaler To Roskam: Our Troops Aren't Children

Josh Kalven — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 07:35:22 -0700

Earlier in the year, Rep. Peter Roskam signed on as a co-sponsor of the Military Honor and Decency Act, which restricts the sale of movies or printed materials featuring any nudity on Army bases worldwide. Today, the Sun-Times' Abdon Pallasch printed a response from Roskam's Democratic opponent, retired Col. Jill Morgenthaler:

"I find it offensive, having served with the young men and women in Iraq," said Morgenthaler, a retired colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves. "Every day we trust them to make decisions. This bill says we don't trust them to choose their own magazines or movies."

Blogger Steve Benen expressed similar sentiments last April:

Let me get this straight. U.S. troops are fighting two wars, neither of which are going well, and Republicans believe we should spend time and energy considering what kind of magazines U.S. troops can purchase on base? Here’s a radical idea: maybe those who wear the uniform and put their lives on the line for their country should be able to read whatever they want.

Two IL Candidates Make DCCC's List Of "Emerging Races"

Mose Buchele — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:38:54 -0700

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has named 14 new candidates to its list of "Red to Blue" races, which already features Dan Seals in Illinois' 10th District and Debbie Halvorson in the 11th. Furthermore, the DCCC rolled out a new list of 20 "emerging" congressional races that are generating substantial enthusiasm. Included are two additional Democratic candidates battling for seats here in the Prairie State: Jill Morgenthaler (IL-6) and Colleen Callahan (IL-18).

The DCCC releases these lists as a way of showing what candidates appear particularly strong, which districts particularly vulnerable, and as a way to generate support for the candidates mentioned. Those campaigns that make the cut also receive "financial, communications, and strategic support" from the DCCC.

Roskam's Weak Defense Of Vote Against G.I. Bill

Adam Doster — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:13:15 -0700

Peter Roskam says vets in his district know he supports them. If that's the case, why did he vote against the House version of the revamped G.I. Bill last month? The bill assists veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars that have served three years or more by covering the cost of four years at a state college and helping with housing and books. Speaking to NBC5's Mary Ann Ahern yesterday, Roskam said it was all a matter of dollars and cents:

“I’m a co-sponsor of underlying bill, but as with many things in Congress, you don’t get an up-and-down vote on simply that bill alone. So unfortunately, it was loaded up with a whole lot of other spending and it was loaded up with $51 billion dollars in new taxes. Nobody sent me to Washington D.C. to raise their taxes.”

Roskam left out a tiny detail about those "new taxes." To fund the 10-year benefit package, Democrats proposed a half-percent tax surcharge on individuals earning over $500,000 and couples earning over $1 million a year. But that wasn't good enough for the Illinois congressman, who was apparently more interested in protecting the economic interests of his district's wealthiest residents than the educational interests of the 1.6 million Iraq and Afghanistan veterans hoping to better their lives at home.