Roskam facing a real political test

Question: Is U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, in fact, the moderate conservative he portrays? Or is he a man caught in the middle between Tea Party ideology and Trump populism? If so, he may find 2018 to be a very tough year, indeed.

Rep. Roskam won his race last Election Day, but Hillary Clinton prevailed in the 6th District presidential vote. Clearly, the majority of this district's voters are neither red state ideologues nor out-of-work coal miners. Whether Democrat or Republican, a critical number of us are basically moderates who are sensitive to the needs of those with less, uneasy with the growing imbalance of wealth in America, and very concerned about the weight of debt we will hand to our children.

In his leadership position on the House Ways and Means Committee, Roskam will lead the charge for reducing taxes for the now famous 1 percent - at the same time his party grudgingly passes a budget that will sharply increase the national debt while it reduces the "discretionary" resources now aiding most Americans with everything from housing to nutrition to clean water and energy. Moderate 6th District voters will not be happy with such fiscal, human and environmental harm.

Roskam's biggest challenge will be defending the Republican Obamacare replacement program. It will not create the better, more affordable, everyone-will-love-it, healthcare program for which Trump created such a huge expectation. People, particularly those who need affordable healthcare the most, will be seriously hurt.

Roskam has not been tested since his first race. It is likely opposition will be vociferous in 2018, with moderates who voted both for him and Clinton making the difference. Which way will they break in the next election? Roskam will be judged by his leadership and votes in the 115th Congress. It's going to be a cliffhanger.

Peer T. Lykke

Barrington Hills