Why Is Peter Roskam Kissing Union Ass?

Peter Roskam seems confused. He represents the 6th Congressional District in Illinois. He calls himself a Republican and he's running for re-election. Did he think it would be a wise move to support currently proposed legislation for a bailout of troubled union pension funds? In theory, the bill could add $165 billion to the of American taxpayers' already heavy burden. The bill is being introduced by Senator Bob Casey, (D-Pa.), who says it will save jobs and help people, and Roskam supports it. The bill in question will essentially let multi-employer union pension plans, like the Teamster's plan that is currently causing UPS so much trouble, segregate out the workers of defunct companies and get the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp to pony up for their benefits. Media Matters says that the bailout won't cost $165 billion, and they're right; that's the total liabilities of the plan. Theoretically, it could cost $165 billion if every single employer went bankrupt, but that's not a very likely scenario. More at The Atlantic... NetRightDaily reports that "Americans for Limited Government (ALG) has sent a letter to 9 House Republicans urging that they withdraw their support from legislation providing a taxpayer bail-out of labor union run pension funds. Among the union pension funds in critical danger are those run by the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) and more than a hundred other union-run funds." Roskam is one of the nine Congressmen to get that letter. Read more at NetRightDaily.com Roskam has a reputation as a good conservative, so his support of Casey's union bailout bill seems bizarre. Roskam has a good "general favorability towards Republicans" according to National Journal Online's 2009 Vote Ratings with score of 76.0. That's "good," but it's far from perfect. (Compare it to Mark Kirk's 60.7 rating.) (Hat tip to TeaPartyElections.)

Small Business Cheated by "Stimulus" Package

In this video, Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL, 6th Dist) chides fellow members of Congress for giving only $40 Million of the $825 Billion "stimulus package" to small businesses for tax relief. Roskam quotes a colleague in calling small businesses the "risk takers, the doers, the makers of things," and notes that they, not the government, have carried the nation to prosperity and freedom. WARNING: This video contains language that may be considered obscene or hateful by some liberal progressive Democrats. Hat tip to Illinois Review! CNB RSS Feed

KIRK DEFEATS SEALS

WHEW! Some of the Bolshies were held at bay. For example, Congressman Mark Kirk (R-IL) held his office by defeating his challenger, Democrat Dan Seals, in a tight race in Chicago's north shore communities. Kirk’s race was one of three where suburban Republicans fended off Democratic challengers emboldened by Barack Obama’s presence at the top of the ticket in his home state. Freshman Rep. Peter Roskam of Wheaton and veteran Rep. Judy Biggert of Hinsdale declared victory over their Democratic challengers. MORE at Chicago Tribune...