Duckworth, Foster, undecided on Iran deal

Democratic U.S. Reps. Bill Foster of Naperville and Tammy Duckworth of Hoffman Estates remain undecided about the Obama administration's nuclear deal with Iran, with other suburban members of Congress largely split along party lines.

In the Senate, Republican Mark Kirk of Highland Park has been a lead critic of the deal, and Democrat Dick Durbin has been a vocal supporter.

Most suburban lawmakers follow those party lines. Their opinions could be important because Congress eventually could vote to block the deal. President Barack Obama has said he'd veto a move by Congress seeking to block it.

Republican Reps. Randy Hultgren of Plano, Peter Roskam of Wheaton and Bob Dold of Kenilworth oppose the administration's deal.

"The bottom line for any deal with Iran is that we must prevent the country from getting the bomb and setting off an arms race in the region," Hultgren said. "Right now, I believe this deal fails to do that."

Democratic Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Evanston joins Durbin in favoring the Obama administration's deal.

Foster has said his background as a physicist gives him particular insight into the scientific aspects of the deal. Duckworth told a downstate radio station she didn't want to rush to judgment.

"I'm going to do my homework," she said. "I'm not going to let anyone else tell me how to vote."

The House is scheduled to end its summer recess next month.