Roskam: Don't settle on 'fastest, easiest' speaker choice
U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam isn't ruling out a bid to return to House Republican leadership as House Speaker John Boehner retires, saying he will "work hard to make sure we get the leadership we need."
Roskam, a Wheaton Republican, praised Boehner's work doing what he called "the toughest job in Washington."
He appeared to call for a shake-up in choosing Boehner's replacement.
"I'm for somebody who can bridge the divide in our Conference," he said in a statement. "If we don't have a plan to get us out of this dysfunction, reshuffling the deck won't make anything better. I'm going to work hard to make sure we get the leadership we need, not just settle on the fastest, easiest choice."
Earlier this month after a high-profile move on the Iran nuclear deal, Roskam left open the possibility of a future attempt to get back into House Republican leadership. He was the No. 4 GOP lawmaker in the House before losing a bid to move up last year.
Roskam called Boehner "a tremendous public servant and a humble speaker who showed the American people that in this country anyone can rise above their circumstances through hard work and determination."
Other Republican members of the delegation also wished Boehner well.
"The great thing about John Boehner is he never forgot where he came from, using his Midwestern upbringing to always stand up for the small business owner or farmer," U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren of Winfield said in a statement. "I wish him the very best as he opens a new chapter in his life."
U.S. Rep. Bob Dold of Kenilworth said he hasn't picked a favored Boehner successor.
"This is all very, very new," he said. "I think what is important is that we have someone that is a unifier."
Dold says he doesn't know of Roskam's plans.
"I was a supporter of Peter's before, and I think that Peter has got a bright future going forward," he said. "I don't know what his plans are right now."