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Peter James Roskam (born September 13 1961 in Hinsdale, Illinois) is a personal injury lawyer and a former Republican member of the Illinois State Senate representing Illinois' 48th district. Roskam is the congressman-elect for Illinois' 6th congressional district, replacing retiring 16-term Republican Henry Hyde.

Personal history

Roskam was born in Hinsdale, Illinois and was raised in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, graduating from Glenbard West High School. Roskam received his B.A. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his J.D. from the Chicago-Kent College of Law.

In 1984, Roskam taught history and government at All Saints High School in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. In 1985, Roskam served as a legislative assistant to Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX), and in 1986 as a legislative assistant to Rep. Hyde. In the late 1980s, Roskam served as the Executive Director of Educational Assistance Ltd., a scholarship program for disadvantaged children. In 1992, Roskam was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives, serving from 1993 to 1999. In 2000, he was appointed to the Illinois State Senate where he currently serves. Roskam resides in Wheaton, Illinois with his wife Elizabeth and their four children.

Roskam is a partner in the law firm Salvi, Roskam & Maher, a personal injury firm. He was named "Best Oral Advocate" by the American College of Trial Lawyers. The firm Salvi, Roskam & Maher is politically notable because former Republican Senate candidate Al Salvi and former Republican House candidate Kathy Salvi are also partners in the firm.

In 1989 the Wheaton Leader noted Roskam's actions as a private citizen in organizing a recycling program in Wheaton.

Roskam is a member of the Anglican Mission in America, an offshoot of the Anglican Church.

Roskam worked with his mother, Martha Roskam, to return lost dog tags from the Vietnam War to military personnel or their surviving relatives.

On October 3 2006, Jillian Lindeen filed a malpractice lawsuit against Roskam in the DuPage County court. The suit alleges Roskam failed to use due diligence in pursuing Lindeen's personal injury case and that as a result Lindeen's case was dismissed on 1 August 2006.

Illinois State Senate

Roskam is currently the Republican Whip, the Republican spokesman on the Executive Committee, and a member of the Rules Committee, Environment and Energy Committee, Insurance and Pensions Committee, and Judiciary Committee. In the Senate Roskam has sponsored legislation giving the Supreme Court of Illinois authority to reverse a death penalty sentence, has sponsored legislation increasing the penalties for repeat D.U.I. offenders, worked to streamline education programs, and was the lead sponsor of a law to maintain courts' power to hold deadbeat parents in contempt to ensure child support. Roskam has authored or co-authored fourteen bills to cut taxes.

In 1992, Roskam's state campaign was investigated by the Illinois Attorney General and the Internal Revenue Service for failing to report campaign contributions from a 501(c)3.

In the mid-90s, according to the Daily Herald, Roskam was involved in a campaign fund-raising scheme that appeared to some Republican House members to be selling his vote on tort reform for campaign contributions from other trial lawyers.

On another occasion in 1998, when Al Salvi was running for Illinois Secretary of State, Roskam asked the Illinois Comptroller's office for a list of state employees. At the time, Roskam told the Chicago Tribune that the request was for personal use. However, Roskam gave the list to Salvi, who used the list to send numbered campaign fund-raising tickets to state employees. The numbering allowed the campaign to keep track of who contributed and who didn't. One watchdog group called the scheme "classic Illinois political prostitution with a twist."

In January 2005, Roskam fought the passage of the Illinois Human Rights Act on the grounds that it would require churches and religious organizations that view homosexuality as a sin to hire homosexuals. Supporters of the act believe this claim to be a misrepresentation, stating that the act contains an explicit exemption for churches and religious organizations.

In the Senate, Roskam fought State Comptroller Dan Hynes' proposal to fund stem cell research. Supporters of the bill argue that it could have enticed investment and benefited the state economy. Roskam faced opposition from Republican State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, State Senator and DuPage County GOP Chairman Kirk Dillard, and Republican House Minority Leader Tom Cross. Major medical and educational institutions, such as Northwestern University, supported the proposal.

Political positions

The Iraq War and the War on Terror

Roskam's views on the US's role in Iraq have changed. As late as 21 September 2006, Roskam said that the US should "stay the course" and that US troops should not return home until Iraq is safe. He criticized his opponent's views on withdrawl, saying "the Sixth district is not a cut-and-run district." On 23 October 2006, however, Roskam said it was a mistake the U.S. didn't go in with full force in Iraq. Last week, Roskam agreed with Tammy Duckworth's call for quarterly status reports to Congress on Iraqi troop training.

Peter Roskam has implied that terrorists want his opponent to win the race:

Roskam told the crowd at the GOP's campaign headquarters that the "entire world is watching this campaign" against Democrat Tammy Duckworth for the west suburban seat being given up by retiring Rep. Henry Hyde. As proof, he said a radio producer told him that Al Jazeera--the Arabic language news network--had covered his debate with Duckworth last week. The crowd gasped. "Now that's a real interesting group that would come out and cover the 6th Congressional District," Roskam observed. "Al Jazeera has an interest in who wins in the 6th Congressional District? I'm telling ya, let's send them an answer, whaddya say?" The crowd cheered.

In a fundraising letter to supporters, Roskam wrote, "An odd thing happened in the only public debate between my opponent and me, Al-Jazeera showed up...Now, why do they care who wins the election?" According to the Chicago Sun Times, however, Al Jazeera was at the debate because "the race offers foreign journalists a snapshot into the U.S. in a district that is conveniently located next to O'Hare Airport."

Social Security

On May 20, 2005, Roskam missed a vote in the Illinois Senate on a resolution to protect Social Security. Roskam has said in a WBBM post debate press conference, "I am against privatizing Social Security, I am against raising taxes for Social Security benefits, and I'm against benefit reductions for Social Security.

On September 21, 2006, the newspaper The Hill reported on Roskam's position on Social Security:

In Illinois’ 6th congressional district, Democrats attacked state Sen. Peter Roskam (R) for his answers to questionnaires by two pressure groups, the AARP and the National Taxpayers Union (NTU). In the NTU’s questionnaire, Roskam said he would "work and vote for Social Security Choice that will allow younger workers to have the choice of investing much of their Social Security taxes in regulated individual retirement accounts." In his AARP questionnaire, Roskam wrote that Social Security "must be protected" and that he does not favor increasing taxes, reducing benefits, raising the retirement age or privatizing the system. A direct mail piece sent by the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) says that, "In Congress, Peter Roskam will protect Social Security for Illinois retirees. He opposes any plans that touch even a dime of benefits for seniors and those nearing retirement." Roskam told The Hill that he opposes any measures that would add private savings accounts or slice up the current program to create a private account.

Roskam placed television ads that accused Duckworth of wanting to raise Social Security payroll taxes. According to the Daily Herald, the AARP mailed out thousands of letters to the Sixth district denouncing the ad as misleading.

According to Daily Herald reporter Eric Krol, Roskam "has given different responses to different groups on privatizing Social Security, but when pressed, ultimately supports a half-measure to move money into private accounts..."

Taxes

Roskam advocates renewing the national 2003 tax cuts, and has sponsored or co-sponsored fourteen pieces of legislation for lower taxes, including child tax credits and reducing the income tax, and has stated support for a research and development tax credit. As an Illinois General Assembly legislator, Roskam authored and supported several pieces of tax reduction legislation.

Stem-cell research

Roskam supports adult and umbilical cord stem cell research. Roskam has argued against embryonic stem sell research in the Illinois Senate. Describing the issue in 2004, Roskam said, "You're being asked to take one human life and cast it aside for the benefit of another." However, the National Institutes of Health claims embryonic stem cells have greater potential. The Chicago Tribune, reporting on Roskam's views, noted, "Adult stem cells, usually from bone marrow transplants or umbilical cord blood, are widely considered less flexible than embryonic stem cells in forming many types of tissue."

On October 24, actor and Parkinson's disease sufferer Michael J. Fox appeared at a fundraiser for Roskam's opponent, Tammy Duckworth at Arrowhead Golf Course in Wheaton, supporting Duckworth's stance on embyronic stem cell research.Roskam held a simultaneous press conference featuring a cancer survivor who was treated with his own cells.

Gun politics

Roskam opposes the 1994 Federal assault weapons ban. Roskam sponsored a bill in the state Senate which would have allowed retired military and police personnel to carry concealed weapons.

Peter Roskam has gained the endorsement of the National Rifle Association (NRA), for being a supporter of gun rights. On July 15 2006, Roskam was the featured guest at a NRA support rally for him in Addison, Illinois. His appearance was protested by local families of victims of gun violence who oppose his position on gun politics. The NRA has given $4,950 to Roskam's campaign.

While in the state Senate, Roskam sponsored gun legislation with two major components. One part called for the destruction of background check records within 90 days of a gun’s purchase. The other part closed the gun show loophole by requiring background checks on potential gun purchasers at gun shows. The Tribune noted that gun-control advocates were supportive of closing the gun-show loophole; however, Roskam received criticism from police for the proposed destruction of background check records. Police use those records to investigate straw purchasers who buy guns for criminals and to prepare themselves when serving a warrant or making an arrest at a home. The proposed 90-day time limit is more lenient than federal standards, which require the FBI to destroy this type of record within 24 hours.

O'Hare Airport

Roskam opposes plans to expand O'Hare International Airport, and instead favors building a third regional airport in Chicago's southern suburbs. The expansion is opposed by a consortium of local communities and by congressmen Henry Hyde and Jesse Jackson Jr Many business groups, including the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, support O'Hare expansion. Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, a Republican from Illinois, supports O'Hare expansion, as does the local Republican leadership from DuPage County.

Education

In the 1990s, according to the Daily Herald, Roskam supported three different state legislative plans to ban books from schools: one to ban the textbook series "impressions" from Arlington Heights schools, another to ban books that "expressly counsels for suicide" and a third to allow local juries to determine whether a book is obscene. Opponents have maintained that the legislation would force the removal of classics like Romeo and Juliet, Little House on the Prairie, and It's a Wonderful Life from classrooms.

Immigration

Roskam supports the House bill on immigration reform. He has called the Senate version, which his opponent supports, the "Ted Kennedy amnesty bill." On 30 October, Roskam attended a fundraiser with Senator John McCain, who co-wrote the Senate version of the bill that Roskam has opposed as "making a mockery of the law."

Roskam would send National Guard troops to the border and supports Republican House legislation to make illegal presence in the country a felony and require the building of fences along 700 miles of border. On October 26, Roskam appeared at a press conference with U.S. House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin, who the Chicago Sun Times called "one of the most polarizing figures on the issue."

Other positions

Peter Roskam is pro-life and opposes abortion except when the life of the mother is at risk, making no exceptions for rape or incest. Roskam supports the death penalty, and opposes same-sex marriage and civil unions.

Roskam supports allowing the use of earmarks in federal budgeting.

Roskam supports tort reform. However, the Chicago Tribune noted that Roskam earned over $615,000 in 2005 as a personal injury trial lawyer. Terrence Lavin, the former president of the Illinois Bar Association, said that Al Salvi and Roskam promised, "We will never, ever vote for tort reform," when they asked Lavin for a $25,000 donation to a political action committee. Roskam has been criticized for his law-firm's advertisements in the yellow pages. Roskam supports CAFTA.

In 2005, Roskam received a 67% rating from the Illinois Environmental Council. In 2004 he scored 100%, while in 2003 he scored 40%.

In November 2006, Roskam expressed opposition to raising the national minimum wage from $5.15 per hour, referring to possible effect on small businesses.

1998 Congressional campaign

Roskam ran for Congress in 1998 in Illinois' 13th Congressional District (Map) to replace retiring Congressman Harris W. Fawell, but lost in the Republican primary to Judy Biggert. Roskam received 40% of the vote to Biggert's 45%. In that race, Biggert accused Roskam of protecting gambling and tobacco interests after he opposed her vote in support of an education reform package that raised taxes on gambling boats and cigarettes.

In 1999, at Biggert's request, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) investigated a mailing sent out by a Political Action Committee (PAC), the Campaign for Working Families (CWF), in support of Peter Roskam. The FEC found CWF at fault for not reporting the cost of mailings and radio ads within the 24-hour requirement. The improper expenditures exceeded $69,000. However, the FEC did not find the Roskam campaign at fault or complicit in CWF's error. The PAC was led by conservative Gary Bauer.

A complaint was filed with the Federal Election Commission, which noted Roskam failed to pay a vendor for services provided. Roskam's campaign finance reports state there are no outstanding debts, the complaint alleges this is a misrepresentation.

2006 Congressional campaign

Roskam was recently elected to fill Henry Hyde's open seat in the 6th Congressional district. He ran unopposed in the Republican Congressional Primary. His opponent in the November general election was Democrat Tammy Duckworth. Hyde has endorsed Roskam. The competitive race was called "the nation's most-watched congressional contest".

2005

Roskam held a media event with and received support from Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform.

On September 22 2005, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay hosted a $500 per plate ($1,000 for PAC donors) fundraising lunch in Washington, D.C. for Roskam. Roskam had earlier said that he had "not had any contact with essentially for 20 years." Roskam also said, "Knowing what I know now about what Tom DeLay's been accused of, my attitude would be to support him." At that point in time, DeLay had been indicted on four charges.

Spring 2006

On May 9 2006, Duckworth stated that "Peter Roskam's silence in the face of bigotry is not leadership," Roskam had missed his scheduled National Day of Prayer speech in order to vote in Springfield. Organizers substituted talk radio host Sandy Rios. In her speech, Rios said that the Christian god is preferable to the Muslim god because "he does not demand the blood of innocents to satisfy him. There is no other God like that. No Hindu God; no other God. Allah is not like that. Allah is a God of vengeance." Roskam has said that Rios' "remarks don't represent my views" and that he would not characterize the Muslim God as vengeful. He said Rios' remarks were inappropriate for the occassion and "comments (like that) drive wedges at a time when we need to be bringing people together."

Summer 2006

In August 2006, the Roskam campaign was one of several that copied the Republican Party's talking points and included parts of the answers as their own for an American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) survey. The answers related to Medicare, Social Security, insurance plans and retirement. This has been criticized as plagiarism.

On August 30 2006, The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) asked Roskam "to publicly denounce and repudiate" a National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) direct mailing that the ICIRR claims is inaccurate and that treats immigrants as "some type of disease." Neither Roskam nor his campaign has contradicted the mailer.

Fall 2006

On September 10 2006, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that "Roskam is trying to use immigration as an issue against his Democratic rival, Tammy Duckworth, in their race for the House seat being vacated by Republican Henry Hyde."

On September 15 2006, the Chicago Tribune reported that the Roskam campaign had sent out fliers to voters that described Roskam as having been endorsed by the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police; however, the group had not endorsed Roskam and in fact ended up endorsing Roskam's opponent. Roskam's spokesman said that the pieces were left over from the primary; however, the pieces referred to a September 12 2006 endorsement by the US Chamber of Commerce.

On October 5 2006, Republican U.S. Congressman Ray LaHood, referring to the Mark Foley page scandal said: "But let's face it, all of us are facing questions from our constituents. I do think people like Peter Roskam and David McSweeney and Andrea Zinga – this presents a real problem for them."

A fundraiser for Roskam and David McSweeney was held on October 12 2006 at the Chicago Hilton. President George W. Bush and Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert headlined the event.

On October 16 2006, the Chicago Tribune printed an editorial entitled, "Don't quote us on that". Roskam advertisements claim that "Tammy Duckworth would give welfare and Social Security benefits to illegal aliens," citing the Chicago Tribune as the source. Roskam's ad refers to a September 23 2006 story that mentions Duckworth's support for the U.S. Senate's immigration bill. The story did not mention welfare or social security, but says the bill "would allow illegal immigrants to apply for citizenship after learning English, staying employed for a prescribed length of time and paying a fine and back taxes." The article ends:

A word to Mr. Blagojevich and Mr. Roskam. If you choose to quote us, please take care to relate what we said, not what you wish we'd said. Get it right--or leave us out of it.

Endorsements

In May 2006, the Teamsters labor union endorsement of Roskam was announced by John Coli, President of Joint Council 25. The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 also endorsed Roskam for the congressional seat. The largest union in the state, the Illinois AFL-CIO, gave Roskam a rating of 23% in 2005 and 15% in 2004, and endorsed Duckworth.

In October, several Illionis newspapers endorsed Roskam's opponent, Tammy Duckworth. The Daily Herald cited agreement with Duckworth's views on Iraq, immigration, gun control, on the Federal Marriage Amendment, and on embryonic stem cell research. The Chicago Tribune cited Roskam's past campaign contribution irregularities, and observed that Roskam has been using scare tactics in, and has misrepresented Duckworth's views on, the immigration debate. It also cited concern that Roskam's opposition to O'Hare Airport expansion would cost the area jobs. The Chicago Sun-Times endorsed Roskam's opponent. The paper noted: But with even the president retiring his "stay the course" language on Iraq, it's hard to believe Roskam's "finish the job" stance is backed by the voters. He opposes immigration reforms beyond border enforcement and, regrettably, the assault weapons ban while supporting destruction of background records on gun buyers within 90 days of purchase. The Pioneer Press, which operates dozens of local newspapers in the Sixth district, inculding the Wheaton Sun and The Doings of Elmhurst, followed suit.

On November 3, according to the Washington Post, the Veterans of Foreign Wars angered some Illinois veterans by endorsing Roskam over his Iraq War veteran opponent. Democratic Senator and Vietnam veteran Bob Kerrey said, "They should be ashamed of themselves." According to the Daily Herald, the VFW relied on former Republican state Senator Ray Soden of Wood Dale to choose which candidate to endorse. Roskam admitted to reporters that he had waited to announce the endorsement until days before the election for maximum effect.

Debates

The candidates debated on WTTW/Channel 11 (October 23), WBEZ radio (October 19), WBBM radio (September 24), and at the College of DuPage (12 October).

Campaign contributions

According to FEC filings, both 6th district congressional candidates have received donations from various political action committees.

Roskam trails Duckworth in fundraising. Roskam has raised $2.46 million vs. Duckworth's $2.85 million. Roskam has more cash on-hand due in part to not having a primary challenger. Roskam has been more dependent on contributions from PACs. 60% of Roskam's donations came from individuals, while 78% of Duckworth's were from individuals.

FEC disclosures show Roskam has received financial support from Americans for a Republican Majority, a PAC formed by Tom DeLay. Roskam accepted financial support from the law firm of Greenberg Traurig, where Jack Abramoff worked as a lobbyist.

Roskam has accepted donations from several members of the Van Der Molen family, whom were associated with the Mallard Lake Landfill in DuPage County, prior to selling to BFI. The landfill has been accused of being the source of a carcinogenic contaminant, vinyl chloride, found in the well water in Carol Stream, Hanover Park, Bartlett, and Wayne Township.

FEC filings show that Roskam received donations from Exelon Corporation's PAC. Donations were also received from the CEO, John W. Rowe, and numerous officers directly. Exelon is the parent company of Commonwealth Edison, the electric utility serving Roskam's district.

Roskam's campaign has criticized Duckworth for raising funds from outside the district. This was noted in a April 24 Chicago Sun-Times article entitled "Duckworth rakes in cash -- but not from 6th District." Roskam received 92% of his donations from within Illinois, while Duckworth received 61% from within Illinois. A breakdown of cash donations by zip code appears to indicate a higher percentage of contributions to Roskam are from within the 6th Congressional District.

On October 3 2006, according to Crain's Chicago Business, Roskam's opponent charged that Roskam should return the $40,000 in campaign contributions that he received from House Speaker Hastert and other House leaders who she accused of covering up the Mark Foley sexual harrassment scandal.

As of June 30 2006, Roskam has received more contributions from political committees formed by sitting legislators than any other non-incumbent Congressional candidate in the nation. A Roskam campaign spokesman credited House Speaker Dennis Hastert for those contributions: "That's related to how important is for us in this race."

Roskam has strongly argued against the Senate version of the immigration reform bill, calling it "Ted Kennedy's anmesty bill." The Roskam campaign has called on Roskam's opponent to return the campaign contributions which she received from the AFL-CIO, which Roskam claims is "pro-amnesty". However, Roskam has not returned the $2,500 contribution from Senator John McCain, a co-author of the Senate bill.

Notes

1. ^ "About Peter".
2. "Peter J. Roskam". Salvi, Roskam & Maher.
3. Wheaton Leader, May 3, 1989 http://www.roskamforcongress.com/aboutpeter/recycling.cfm
4. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7279844/did/9694033
5. "Dist. hopefuls spar over congressional page issue" By Eric Krol and Marni Pyke Wednesday, October 4, 2006 Daily Herald
6. http://www.roskamforcongress.com/issues/bill_highlights.cfm
7. http://www.cegelisforcongress.com/files/Delay-Indicted-Statement.pdf
8. "Voters will judge these episodes from Roskam’s past" Eric Krol Friday, September 22, 2006 Daily Herald
9. "Voters will judge these episodes from Roskam’s past" Eric Krol Friday, September 22, 2006 Daily Herald
10. http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/politics/state/2_1_AU03_GAYRIGHTS_S1.html
11. http://www.ifrl.org/IFRLDailyNews/041129/1/
12. "Iraq not central in war on terror, Duckworth says" BY PAT CORCORAN ELK GROVE TIMES
13. http://www.dailyherald.com/politics/story.asp?id=242088 "Final debate focuses on the war"] by Eric Krol Tuesday, October 24, 2006 Daily Herald
14. 'Governor, stick to politics' Published October 23, 2006, 7:26 AM CDT Chicago Tribune
15. In shot at rival, Roskam points to . . . al-Jazeera? November 5, 2006 BY LYNN SWEET Chicago Sun-Times
16. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/votehistory/94/senate/09400SJ0013_05202005_030000D.pdf
17. http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/008932.php
18. WBBM post-debate press conference, 9,22,06
19. "’82 issues return in ’06" By Jonathan E. Kaplan
20. Social "Security is late issue in House races" By Eric Krol Daily Herald November 02, 2006
21. Speedos, guns in schools, and the 6th District race By Eric Krol Tuesday, October 24, 2006 Daily Herald
22. http://www.roskamforcongress.com/roskamrecord/index.cfm?ID=10
23. http://www.dailyherald.com/politics/ele_story.asp?id=213103#
24. ^ Biemer, John (August 2, 2006). "Duckworth joins stem cell debate". The Chicago Tribune.
25. NIH - Stem Cells
26. "Actor Michael J. Fox To Appear At Duckworth Rally", Tuesday, 24 October 2006 10:13AM wbbm780.com
27. Michael J. Fox to appear at rally for Democrat Tammy Duckworth October 23, 2006 ABC7Chicago.com
28. Eric Krol (July 28, 2006). "Defining strengths, hiding weaknesses key in this race". Daily Herald.
29. http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=69272
30. Eric Krol (July 14, 2006). "Is Roskam stepping into line of fire?". Daily Herald.
31. "Peter Roskam's priorities" Chicago Tribune; Oct 26, 2005; pg. 24
32. http://www.epic.org/privacy/firearms/
33. http://www.roskamforcongress.com/news/view.cfm?id=1243135985
35. [http://www.jessejacksonjr.org/query/creadpr.cgi?id=%22005090%22 Jesse Jackson Jr on the O'hare expansion
36. http://www.chicagolandchamber.org/CLA/article.asp?article_ID=57
37. http://www.house.gov/list/press/il14_hastert/2003_01_14_ohare.html
38. Would you, could you twist a fact? By Eric Zorn Friday, October 20, 2006 Chicago Tribune
39. "A National Knife Fight" by Joshua Green Oct 2006 Esquire, 236
40. "McCain, Roskam overlook differences" October 31, 2006 Chicago Sun-Times BY PAIGE WINFIELD
41. "Little common ground for Roskam, Duckworth" By John Biemer September 23, 2006 Chicago Tribune
42. "Little common ground for Roskam, Duckworth" By John Biemer September 23, 2006
43. "Immigration hard-liner backs Roskam's bid" BY DAVE NEWBART October 27, 2006 Chicago Sun Times
44. http://www.nwherald.com/MainSection/local/339569758994136.php
45. "Associated Press election coverage". The Associated Press. September 7, 2006. Retrieved 2006-09-09.
46. Eric Krol (August 22, 2006). "Roskam defends federal pork support". Daily Herald.
47. http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2006/06/candidates_refo.html
48. http://www.dailyherald.com/search/searchstory.asp?id=188989
49. http://www.ilenviro.org/publications/files/2005scorecard.pdf
50. Roskam balks at hiking minimum wage By Marni Pyke Daily Herald Saturday, November 11, 2006
51. http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe1998/ilh.htm
52. Balz, Dan (March 15, 1998). "Illinois Primary Races Highlight Party Divisions". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2006-09-09.
53. http://eqs.sdrdc.com/eqsdocs/00003C0B.pdf
54. http://eqs.sdrdc.com/eqsdocs/00002618.pdf
55. Krol, Eric (2006-10-12). "Debate on immigrants stokes race" (reprint). Chicago Daily Herald (in English). Paddock Publications, Inc. Retrieved 2006-10-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
56. http://www.roskamantitaxteam.com/index.cfm?id=201&fuseaction=browse&pageid=1
57. http://www.cegelisforcongress.com/files/Delay-Indicted-Statement.pdf
58. http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/008064.php
59. http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-roskam22.html
60. the charges included: unlawful political advertising, unlawful contributions to a political committee and unlawful expenditures such as those to a graphics company and political candidates http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/08/AR2005090800973.html
61. "Roskam distances self from speech" By Eric Krol Tuesday, May 09, 2006, Daily Herald
62. http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Aug31/0,4670,RepublicansSurvey,00.html
63. http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_243070220.html
64. http://www.dailyherald.com/politics/story.asp?id=223308
65. http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/nation/story/461E4E2249FE8EC9862571E60013DAAB?OpenDocument
66. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/west/chi-0609150315sep15,1,1181831.story?coll=chi-newslocalwest-hed
67. "FOP pulls a switch, so does Roskam" BY PAT CORCORAN Schaumburg Review
68. "Foley fallout factor in Illinois races" By David Mendell and Christi Parsons October 5, 2006, 9:15 PM CDT Chicago Tribune
69. "Hastert scratches New York fundraiser" BY LYNN SWEET October 8, 2006 Chicago Sun-Times
70. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0610160156oct16,1,6229189.story?coll=chi-opinionfront-hed
71. http://www.teamster.org/06news/hn_060517_5.asp
72. http://www.ilafl-cio.org/voting_records/votingrec05.pdf
73. "For the open 6th District House seat: Duckworth" Posted Sunday, October 15, 2006 Daily Herald
74. "For Congress: Duckworth"October 18, 2006 Chicago Tribune
75. "Our choices for the U.S. House" October 25, 2006 Chicago Sun-Times
76. http://www.pioneerlocal.com/evanston/news/forum/112549,pp-6duckworth-102606-s1.article "Duckworth for Congress" October 26, 2006 Evanston Review
77. "VFW Passes Over Veteran in Illinois" By DON BABWIN Friday, November 3, 2006; 3:40 PM Washington Post
78. "Duckworth's war experience not what VFW looking for in 6th District" by Eric Krol Friday, November 03, 2006 Daily Herald
79. VFW shakes Duckworth By John Biemer Chicago Tribune November 4, 2006
80. http://www.duckworthforcongress.com/calendar.asp
81. http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_give/2005_H6IL06117
82. http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_give/H6IL06141
83. http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.asp?ID=IL06&Cycle=2006
84. http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_give/H8IL13051
85. http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_give/H6IL06117
86. http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_ind/H6IL06117/U-Z/
87. http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_ind/H8IL13051
88. "Roskam challenged on environment" By Eric Krol Sunday, April 30, 2006 Daily Herald
89. http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_109211734.html
90. "Roskam challenged on environment" By Eric Krol Sunday, April 30, 2006 Daily Herald
91. http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_give/2005_H6IL06117
92. http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-sweet241.html
93. http://www.opensecrets.org/races/instate.asp?ID=IL06&cycle=2006&special=N
94. http://www.opensecrets.org/races/zip.asp?ID=IL06&cycle=2006&special=N
95. [http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=22290 "Local candidates fire jabs in Foley fallout"] By Greg Hinz and Paul Merrion, Oct. 02, 2006 Crain's Chicago Business
96. http://www.roskamforcongress.com/news/view_article.cfm?id=622 "Duckworth raises $844,000 in 2nd quarter" Patrick Corcoran July 20, 2006 Pioneer Press
97. http://www.roskamforcongress.com/news/view_article.cfm?id=651M
98. http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2006/09/who_needs_advic.html

External links

• Salvi, Roskam & Maher law firm website

Pro

• Roskam's congressional campaign website
• Roskam's GI Dog Tag website

Netrual

• opensecrets.org Total Raised and Spent: Illinois District 6

Con

• [http://www.dccc.org/gopauctionhouse/roskam/index.html DCCC blog site critical of GOP canditates

Video

Pro

• Video of Roskam TV ad on YouTube
• Video of Senator John McCain speaking at a Roskam fundraiser

Con

• Video of Roskam being mentioned on Keith Olbermann on YouTube
• NCRR Mailers and Ads at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights website

• 1961 births
• Illinois politicians
• Illinois State Senators
• Members of the Illinois House of Representatives
• American lawyers
• Living people
• People from Illinois
• United States House of Representatives candidates