Why has Peter Roskam refused to debate his challenger, Leslie Coolidge for the IL 6th congressional seat?

Perhaps he can’t defend his record. A record of extreme ideology and partisan gridlock that was harmful to our economic recovery. A record of putting pledges to lobbyists (Grover Norquist) above duty to constituents. 

Peter Roskam voted twice for the “Ryan Budget”. A draconian budget which cuts necessary programs, including veterans’ benefits and FEMA. A budget that expands corporate welfare for Super PAC contributors, oil companies that have seen record profits and companies that send jobs overseas.  A budget that privatizes Medicare, enriching wealthy insurance companies while decreasing seniors’ health care benefits. A budget that the Economic Policy Institute states will destroy another 4.1 million jobs by 2014. A budget that embraces failed “trickle-down” economics.     

Peter Roskam also voted repeatedly to gut funding for the EPA, promoting “free market solutions” to environmental concerns. He voted repeatedly to repeal the “Affordable Care Act” which has finally guaranteed all of us access to health care even if we get sick or have “pre-existing conditions”. The Joint Committee on Taxation informed Congress that repealing the ACA would add $109 billion to the deficit over the next 10 years.

Leslie Coolidge, as a CPA, understands fiscal responsibility. She knows that our economy can only be strengthened from the middle out. She will fight for middle-class jobs and for our crucial social safety nets. Leslie isn’t handcuffed to special interests. (Roskam’s largest contributor is Goldman-Sachs.) It is time to hold Roskam accountable for putting power and party before our people and send an advocate to represent our 6th district in Congress. Leslie Coolidge will be that advocate. For many more reasons to vote for Leslie Coolidge, check her website: www.coolidgeforcongress.com.

Kathryn Franke
Warrenville

http://www.lisle.patch.com/articles/letter-leslie-coolidge-understands-fiscal-responsibility

“Congressman Roskam serves in the Republican leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives which has focused on rolling back the clock on women’s rights instead of job creation,” said Coolidge. “He favors banning abortions without exception for rape and incest, denying funding for women’s health check-ups and cancer screenings provided by Planned Parenthood, and allowing employers to deny their female employees contraception coverage in their healthcare plans. Voters deserve to know if he also agrees with Walsh, Akin and Mourdock on rape and the right of women to choose abortion in order to save their lives.”

“I think that even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen.” – Indiana Republican U.S. Senate nominee Richard Mourdock

“First of all, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare [pregnancy from rape]. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something. I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the rapist and not attacking the child.” – Missouri Republican Congressman and U.S. Senate nominee Todd Akin

“With modern technology and science, you can’t find one instance [of an abortion necessary to save the life of the mother]…There’s no such exception as life of the mother.  And as far as health of the mother – same thing. Advances in science and technology. Health of the mother has been, has become a tool for abortions any time and for any reason.” – Illinois Republican Congressman Joe Walsh

“6^th District voters deserve to know whether Congressman Roskam will denounce these statements by his Republican colleagues, or whether he agrees with them,” said Coolidge. “The medical and scientific facts are clear and indisputable: women do get pregnant from rape, and women do sometimes need abortions to save their lives.”

Congressman Peter Roskam co-sponsored a measure to redefine rape to exclude statutory rape and some kinds of date rape (HR3, 1/20/2011). In contrast, Coolidge is strongly pro-choice and will fight right-wing extremist attempts to redefine rape and limit access to contraception and other women’s health services.

Since this election is about the Great American Middle Class, let’s look at IL 6th District Congressman Peter Roskam’s batting average when he gets a chance to swing mightily on its behalf:

First at bat:   Voted for the GOP FY 2013 budget which slashes job creating domestic spending and proposes a mind numbing voucher program for Medicare

Second at bat:   Voted to extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans which unconscionably bloats American indebtedness

Third at bat:   Voted for H.R. 10 allowing Congress veto power over health, safety and environmental regulations the President has discretionary power to implement

Fourth at bat:   Voted to gut ability of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to protect consumers

Fifth at bat:   Voted against House Resolution 112 which would reduce long term federal debt through short-term job-creation measures, such as increased spending on rebuilding roads and schools.

Sixth at bat:   Voted to diminish rights of private sector workers to hold union elections

Seventh at bat:   Voted for H.R. 3080 which lowers tariffs on US auto exports to S. Korea while maintaining incentives to outsource US jobs

Eighth at bat:   Voted for H.R. 4348 which would weaken environmental protection efforts, fast-track the controversial Keystone XL pipeline and seriously delay vital transportation projects

Ninth at bat:   Voted for H.R. 4628 which keeps student loan borrowing costs low for 7 million college students at the expense of ending a vital public health program

Tenth at bat:   Voted to repeal Obamacare 31 times without offering any help for the forty million folks without any or inadequate health care insurance 

The 200,000 likely 6th District voters, who overwhelmingly represent the middle class, are looking at Roskam’s box score. Being good managers of their middle class values and aspirations, they may very well tell Congressman Roskam November 6th to “GRAB SOME BENCH”. 

http://glenellyn.patch.com/blog_posts/roskam-goes-to-bat-for-middle-class-whiffs-on-10-straight

Peter Roskam voted to cut hundreds of jobs at Fermilab in our area, and voted for tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas. Leslie Coolidge supports targeted incentives and job skill training that will help create quality jobs in Illinois.

Peter Roskam voted 33 times to repeal Obamacare. Leslie Coolidge will protect Obamacare, but will focus on how to curb rising medical costs.

Peter Roskam voted for Paul Ryan’s budget which would turn Medicare into a voucher program. Leslie Coolidge will work to strengthen Medicare by eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse.

Peter Roskam wants to ban a woman’s right to choose, even in cases of rape or incest. He co-sponsored a bill that would legally redefine rape to exclude statutory rape and some kinds of date rape. Leslie Coolidge supports a woman’s right to choose and will fight attempts to redefine rape.

Leslie Coolidge’s background as a partner in a worldwide accounting firm gives her a unique insight into issues facing Congress in the next term such as job growth, tax policy, the deficit and abuses that contributed to the recession.

Peter Roskam is the most conservative member of the Illinois Congressional delegation, according to the National Journal. Leslie Coolidge is ready to reach across the aisle and work for legislative solutions that are in the best interest of the country.

The choice is ours on Nov. 6: growth or gridlock. Let’s make a change in Congress.

Janice Kingman
Clarendon Hills

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20121019/discuss/710199963/

Republican representative Peter Roskam of the 6th Congressional district, when taking his oath of office, swore to uphold the Constitution of the United States. Despite that vow, he has, like other members of his party, pledged his genuine fealty to the conservative extremist Grover Norquist, who is neither elected nor ever mentioned in the Constitution.

I’m not personally enthusiastic about paying more taxes, but the notion that any representative of the people could even consider assigning his vote to anyone, much less a bullyboy fringe character who makes his living off of peddling fear, is unconscionable.

Democratic nominee Leslie Coolidge will bring representational honesty to her office. She has not sold her vote to a special interest. Her concern is in being a responsive, responsible and constitutionally sound member of the House.

When you check out Coolidge’s bona fides, you find a person who has spent an exemplary life in the private sector, who is now passionate about using her skills and experience in the public good.

People always complain that there are no honest public officials, then they continue to re-elect the ethically marginal characters with whom they feel comfortable, including those like Roskam, who has leased out his oath of office.

This November it’s time to move out of the easy comfort zone and elect a fresh, new constitutionally honest representative who is the real deal — Leslie Coolidge.

Frank Smith
Cary, IL

Copyright © 2012, Chicago Tribune

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/letters/chi-6th-congressional-district-20121010,0,6254705.story?dssReturn

For More Information Contact:
Sean Tenner, Coolidge for Congress
Sean@CoolidgeForCongress.com
www.CoolidgeForCongress.com
(312) 576-8822

WHO: Democratic Congressional nominee Leslie Coolidge, the Democratic Party of DuPage County and local residents.

WHAT: Will host Presidential debate watch parties

WHEN: October 16 and October 22. Each debate runs from 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM

WHERE:
October 16: The Ramada Inn: 780 North Avenue, Glendale Heights, IL 60139
($25 at the door includes great food, coffee and dessert  / $20 in advance: https://secure.actblue.com/page/debatepartyoct16)

October 22: The Wyndham Hotel Lisle (bar): 3000 Warrenville Road, Lisle, IL 60532 (free)

WHY: This is an important opportunity for all voters to see where the two Presidential nominees stand on the issues. Voters will have the opportunity to meet local residents and candidates who share an interest in politics and government.

Republican Congressman Peter Roskam and Democratic challenger Leslie Coolidge both say job creation is a priority. But in separate interviews with the Daily Herald, they differed on how to get people back to work. The two are running for the 6th Congressional District in the Nov. 6 election.

Wheaton attorney Roskam says jobs will come if the government stops imposing costly regulations on business, builds the Keystone XL Pipeline from Canada to Texas oil refineries and reforms the tax code.

“If you raise taxes now in an economy begging for mercy where we have maybe 1 percent growth, it’s going to have a very significant impact on job creation,” Roskam said.

Coolidge, a Barrington Hills retired accountant, counters that “to make sure we get people back to work, you need to spend in an economic downturn to get the economy strong again and then you repay.”

She advocates for investing in infrastructure, education and scientific research, citing Fermilab in Batavia. It’s “important in terms of innovation and creating new jobs,” she said.

Coolidge said the iconoclastic debt reduction plan spearheaded by Democrat Erskine Bowles and Republican Alan Simpson has merit. “I respect it, I view it as balanced,” she said. “I need to spend more time understanding the details behind it.”

The so-called Simpson-Bowles plan recommends eventual cuts to Social Security benefits, trimming Medicare and military spending, overhauling the tax system and axing certain tax deductions.

“I like the entitlement components to Simpson-Bowles,” Roskam said. “I’m not in favor of the tax-raising component. We’ve shown you don’t have to raise taxes,” he added, citing GOP vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan’s controversial budget.

Roskam backs the House’s one-year extension of current tax rates and contends that “foundational” tax reform is necessary. He did not give specifics on what that meant.

“Once you start laying out absolutes, you’re prescribing the nature of the debate,” Roskam said. “No one can defend the status quo. Let’s use that high level of dissatisfaction as a way to bring people together (after the election).”

Coolidge thinks the Bush-era tax cuts should be extended only for the middle class, saying the extension is important since that income bracket tends to spend most of its earnings.

She supports ending tax cuts for households earning more than $250,000 a year. “I think a couple making $250,000 can afford to pay more than a 35 percent rate, which is historically extremely low,” Coolidge said.

The 6th District includes parts of northwest Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake and McHenry counties.

By Marni Pyke
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20121009/news/710099802/

October 9, 2012, BARRINGTON – Congressional candidate Leslie Coolidge was endorsed by Planned Parenthood, one of the nation’s leading providers of women’s health care, in her 6^th Congressional District race against anti-choice Congressman Peter Roskam.

“I am honored to receive the endorsement of Planned Parenthood,” said Coolidge. “This endorsement illustrates the stark contrasts in this race on issues of women’s health. I will strongly defend a woman’s right to choose, whereas my opponent believes in criminalizing abortion even for rape and incest victims.”

“I will fight efforts in Congress to restrict women’s access to contraception or to allow insurance companies to charge women more for health insurance than men,” Coolidge continued. “I will fight attempts by extreme conservatives to redefine  rape and I’ll fight to expand – not roll back – the rights of all women.”

The Roskam record on women’s health issues is dangerous and extreme. Congressman Roskam:

• Voted to eliminate funding for women’s health checkups and mammogram screenings provided by Planned Parenthood. [House Vote 684, HR 3043, 7/19/07]
• Supports employers’ ability to deny their female employees contraception coverage in their healthcare plans. [HR 1179, 112th Congress]
• Wants to ban a woman’s right to choose even in cases of rape or incest. [Chicago Daily Herald, 10/6/08]
• Cosponsored  a measure to legally redefine rape to exclude statutory rape and some kinds of date rape. [HR 3, 1/20/11]
• Co-sponsored a bill that would extend 14th Amendment civil rights to fertilized eggs, effectively banning all abortions and most forms of birth control. [HR 618, 110th Congress]

Planned Parenthood’s skilled health care professionals are dedicated to offering men, women, and teens high-quality, affordable medical care. One in five American women has chosen Planned Parenthood for health care at least once in her life. Planned Parenthood operates nearly 800 health centers nationwide.

Last month, Patch partnered with the LWV to invite candidates in the Illinois 6th Congressional District race to a candidate forum at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11 at Palatine Village Hall.

The invitation was the group’s second attempt to host such a debate, after Rep. Roskam was unable to attend the Oct. 4 event. Candidate Leslie Coolidge (D-Barrington) previously accepted the Oct. 4 and Oct. 11 invitations.

Read more here:
http://darien-il.patch.com/articles/roskam-declines-invitation-to-candidate-forum