Friends,
I’d like to introduce, or re-aquatint, you to Illinois Congressman and U.S. House of Representatives Chief Deputy Majority Whip Peter Roskam.
Roskam represents the Sixth District of Illinois and is considered not only the party’s future but also a dedicated conservative fighter with practical solutions on a wide range of issues, including the economy, job creation, taxes, government spending, and healthcare.
Let me give you some examples. He’s been one of the most outspoken advocates for passing the three long-stalled trade agreements – the same agreements President Obama finally sent to Congress last week.
On taxes, just recently, he introduced legislation to permanently make the capital gains and dividends tax rates 15%. Right now, President Obama is threatening to let them expire in 2013. Frankly that would be devastating.
Ensuring that tax rates remain low is just one component of the comprehensive tax reform that Roskam is advocating for.
He’s also leading the expedition on stopping the Obama Administration’s most excessive job-killing regulations. A few weeks ago Peter delivered the GOP’s weekly address and bodily called Washington “a red-tape factory.” This is the voice people need in Washington.
Now at the leadership table in Congress, Roskam, alongside Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, has worked diligently to garner grassroots support for bold conservative initiatives, such as The Path to Prosperity, the GOP’s budget aimed at restoring fiscal responsibility.
Peter comprehends the needs of businesses, small business owners, and families beyond the confines of Washington. He’s the genuine article.
Peter Roskam’s Bio:
Peter Roskam is a proud representative of the Sixth District of Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives and currently holds the position of Chief Deputy Majority Whip, making him the fourth-ranking Republican leader in the House.
Peter has been a staunch advocate for commonsense conservative solutions to the challenges facing our nation, now bringing his efforts to the GOP leadership table. Regarded as a “Rising Star” by various news outlets, Roskam serves on the Ways & Means Committee, where he has established himself as a leader advocating for innovative conservative solutions in areas such as taxes, trade, and healthcare.
The Washington Post’s conservative blogger, Jennifer Rubin, asserts that “Roskam’s positions—on Israel, Iran, and fiscal issues—should dispel the notion that there is any divide between GOP leadership and grassroots conservatives.”
In addition Roskam is the co-chair of the Republican Israel Caucus and the U.S. Korea Working Group, dedicated to increasing pro-American export policies. In 2010, Peter served as the vice-chair of America Speaking Out, the organization that created the GOP’s Pledge to America.
A native of Illinois, Peter has strong ties to Chicago’s suburbs. He was born and raised in Glen Ellyn, where he attended Glenbard West High School, excelling as a varsity athlete and school leader. After graduating from the University of Illinois and subsequently from the Illinois Institute of Technology Law School, Peter began his career on Capitol Hill, working for his predecessor, the renowned Congressman Henry Hyde.
Following that, Roskam ran a non-profit scholarship program for disadvantaged youth in Chicago, Educational Assistance Ltd.
Before his election to Congress in 2006, Roskam was a member of the Illinois Senate from 2000-2006, serving as the Republican Whip and Floor Leader. There he served alongside then-State Senator Barack Obama. He served in the Illinois House before that from 1993 to 1998.
Peter’s dedication and accomplishments have earned him recognition from various sectors, including businesses, healthcare, and pro-family organizations. In 2005, Americans for Tax Reform honored him with the title “Hero of the Taxpayer.”
Peter now lives in Wheaton with his wife of 23 years, Elizabeth, and their four children, Gracey, Frankie, Steve, and AJ.
Deputy Majority Whip Peter Roskam’s stance on key issues:
Repeal and Replace
We cannot sustain the healthcare law enacted earlier this year. It establishes a significant new entitlement system that will ultimately raise insurance costs. The funding for the law relies on budgetary maneuvers such as counting Medicare and Social Security savings twice, a practice that would raise eyebrows even among honest accountants. Congressman Roskam understands that genuine healthcare reform should not entail forcing individuals onto Medicaid but rather implementing reforms that address our needs sensitively.
• Liability reform
It became very clear in the reform debate that one of the significant cost drivers in healthcare is the practice of defensive medicine, where doctors have to order unnecessary tests or procedures to protect themselves from frivolous lawsuits.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated that liability reform could save the federal government over $50 billion dollars.
Rather than addressing this issue to bring down costs, Democrats in Washington protected the trial lawyers that reap big paydays from these lawsuits.
• Slash the fraud that plagues MedicareMedicare pays out $60 billion of fraudulent and wasteful claims each year, an affront to taxpayers and a disservice to the care our seniors depend on.
Congressman Roskam authored legislation to apply credit card style anti-fraud technology to Medicare payments, a proposal backed by the White House and endorsed by AARP, National Healthcare Anti-Fraud Association, and Citizens Against Government Waste.
• Empower people to purchase insurance across state lines. We can increase competition and drive down costs by expanding the marketplace and allowing people to purchase insurance across state lines, forcing insurance companies to compete for more customers.
• Enhance the utilization of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) by providing individuals with an account to save for both anticipated and unforeseen healthcare expenses, thereby alleviating financial strain on families.
Over ten million Americans are enrolled in HSAs, the fastest-growing insurance option in the country.
These sort of health plans can provide affordable coverage and empower people to make good health care decisions.
In fact, the supermarket chain Whole Foods covers 100% of the premium for healthcare coverage for its full-time employees and also contributes funds to their Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). John Mackey, the CEO of Whole Foods, believes this approach empowers employees to allocate their healthcare spending according to their own preferences and wellness needs.
He also states their “plan’s costs are much lower than typical health insurance, while providing a very high degree of worker satisfaction.”
Roskam’s Rescue Roster:
There are several measures that Congress could implement immediately to provide economic stability for our job creators, enabling them to make the necessary investments for recovery and job growth. Congressman Roskam is advocating for these initiatives in Washington:
• Permanently cap the Capital Gains and Dividends Tax Rates at 15%.
Washington needs to ask itself what it can do to make America the most competitive environment in the world for job creation? An important first step — with broad support from America’s business community — would be to remove uncertainty and make permanent the 15% rate on capital gains and dividends.
Faced with the looming prospect of significant tax increases in 2013, American businesses, investors, and families find themselves constrained by uncertainty when making crucial investment and financial decisions. The threat of substantial tax hikes on capital gains and dividends is already detrimental, but the additional burden of a guaranteed new 3.8% tax from the healthcare law starting in 2013, combined with the potential expiration of the income tax rates from the past decade, could result in effectively a 58% higher tax rate on capital gains and up to a 189% higher tax rate on dividend income. It’s evident that such a move would have devastating consequences. Here are a few steps in the right direction that Peter supports.
• Pass the Pro-American Export Trade Agreements. These three pro-export policies will make it easier for American manufacturers to sell our products overseas and in turn create jobs here. Republicans have been advocating for these commonsense no-cost job-creation policies for years.
Exports play a crucial role in supporting jobs in Illinois, with 145,903 jobs directly tied to exports statewide, including 60,137 jobs in the 6th District alone, across 650 companies. Once the new Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) are enacted into law, more markets will open up, providing local companies with incentives to expand and increase hiring.
• Comprehensive Tax Reform
Our tax system is convoluted, dysfunctional, and antiquated. It diminishes America’s competitiveness and global influence, leading to the outsourcing of jobs. With the highest corporate tax rate globally and a White House constantly advocating for tax hikes in our individual tax system, the situation is dire. What’s more, 94% of all small businesses are taxed through the individual income tax system.
• We require comprehensive tax reform that not only reduces rates but also expands the tax base, making America more competitive and conducive to job creation. This is the priority that Roskam tirelessly advocates for day in and day out.
Additionally, major federal regulations should be subject to congressional approval before implementation. The uncertainty and inaction emanating from Washington are significant obstacles to economic recovery.
It’s worth noting that there are currently 219 regulations from Washington with an economic impact exceeding $100 million each.
• Repeal job-killing mandates on our job creators.
This year, Democrats in Washington passed new laws that require small businesses to report to the IRS with 1099 forms all their transactions totaling more than $600 with one party. Increased paperwork, heightened scrutiny from the IRS, and steeper penalties associated with these new obligations serve as barriers to job growth.
• Block massive new energy taxes.
New national energy taxes like cap-and-trade will make the cost of energy skyrocket and kill jobs.
Manufacturing is one of the two largest employment sectors in our district.
Driving up the cost of energy will adversely impact over 1,000 manufacturers and 80,000 manufacturing employees in Roskam’s district alone.
Stop the Spending Madness
Congressman Roskam has consistently opposed wasteful spending since his first election in 2006. While Congress may shy away from difficult decisions, Congressman Roskam recognizes that steps need to be taken to steer the federal government towards a balanced budget. Only then can we begin to tackle our debt and set our country on a path toward long-term economic prosperity.
• Rescind unspent stimulus funds.
We were promised that a $1 trillion stimulus package would keep unemployment below 8%, but the stimulus has clearly failed. Instead, unemployment lingers near 10% nationally, and over 10% in our area.
It is disgraceful how the “stimulus” spending could be squandered so recklessly.
$800,000 to study genital washing after sex in Africa? Why?! Ridiculous!
$90,000 to replace a sidewalk in Oklahoma that leads to a ditch?
$700,000 to study and develop software to tell jokes?
We must spare future generations from the burden of debt caused by this “stimulus” spending by rescinding all the billions of dollars in unused stimulus funds.
• Cut Congress’ budget.
At a time when unemployment is at 10%, and we have such pressing federal debt issues, Congress should not be increasing its budget.
• Real budget scrutiny.
It’s long past time for the President’s to deliver on his campaign promise of going through the federal budget line-by-line to cut out wasteful spending. Not only has he not done this but he has increased spending!
Congressman Roskam will press for continued weekly votes on spending cuts like those in the YouCut program, an innovative program that involves citizens in the process of forcing votes on spending cuts in the House of Representatives.
• End Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
The failed mortgage finance giants are draining taxpayer money, having already consumed $150 billion in bailouts. These entities are poised to become the most expensive component of the financial bailouts. Despite this, the financial regulatory “reform” package passed earlier this year largely overlooked them. Meanwhile, executives at these entities continue to earn millions of dollars annually, even as billions in taxpayer funds are needed to keep them operational.
Steps for Security:
Congressman Roskam is working to make sure we are safe. He has a clear view of what America’s role in the world should be and what we need to be secure here at home. If America is to remain the freest and most powerful nation in the world and not suffer more attacks on our homeland, we need to project the assets necessary for the task and implement the forward-thinking protections needed to guard against an ever-evolving threat.
∙ Standing up for our close ally Israel: Stopping U.S. Funding to the Palestinian Authority.
As the news of Osama bin Laden’s death spread, the free world breathed a sigh of relief and praised the United States for its accomplishment. But in the Palestinian territories, such sentiments were not and still are not, shared. In the eyes of Ismail Haniyeh and the infamous Hamas terrorist organization he leads, the operation “Marks the continuation of the American policy based on oppression and the shedding of Muslim and Arab blood.” Frightening really.
Would you trust this organization to have free rein in your own backyard? Is this a group deserving of $550 million in annual foreign aid from cash-strapped U.S. taxpayers?
These are questions the U.S. must now address, since Hamas — which controls the Gaza Strip — this month officially joined the Palestinian Authority in a unity government. The PA plans to unilaterally declare a state at the United Nations meeting in September.
Don’t be fooled by Hamas apologists in the West, who refuse to accept Hamas at its word. Let us not blind ourselves to Hamas’s genocidal outlook. This reconciliation does not mean Hamas will moderate itself. It means the PA is dealing a death blow to a troubled peace process, in which it has seldom demonstrated the courage to engage.
∙ Keep terrorists out of America.
Remember when the Obama Administration had the half-witted idea to move terrorists from Guantanamo to Illinois? Well Peter Roskam was the guy leading the opposition of that move. It would only endanger America.
• Securing our border.
The federal government has been derelict in its duty to secure our borders. On top of that, we’re in the absurd position of the federal government suing a state that is trying to enhance its vigilance on the border.
We have the most generous immigration system in the world, bringing in more than 1 million people per year, which is more than all other countries in the world combined.
But our immigration system is still arduous and complex. We need to make it easier to facilitate legal immigration and secure, with greater strength, our porous borders.
• Enforcing strong sanctions on Iran.
Ahmadinejad is a loose cannon ruling Iran. Congress passed a strong set of sanctions on Iran, and we must now make sure that the Administration uses those tools to their fullest effectiveness.
Iran has no legitimate aspirations for nuclear power. It is proactive and in hot pursuit of nuclear capabilities to ultimately be able to produce a nuclear weapon.
For our own sake, and for our close ally Israel, we must apply all due pressure to Iran to ensure that it does not gain the capability to make a nuclear bomb.
