Endorsement: Roskam over Coolidge in 6th Congressional District

Roskam for 6th District

Now finishing his third two-year term as a congressman, Peter Roskam of Wheaton has established himself in the Capitol as a GOP leader with influence. As chief deputy whip and with his seat on the House Ways and Means Committee, Roskam is a player in how Washington fixes the economic challenges facing the country.

While on social issues, this newspaper differs sharply with Roskam, it is important that Illinois and the suburbs have a voice at the table where key decisions are made. We have always found that to be true, whether it be Dennis Hastert, Henry Hyde or Phil Crane. So Roskam gets our nod this year in the newly drawn 6th Congressional District over Democrat Leslie Coolidge.

We urge Roskam, as a leader in Congress, to take a strong role in pushing bipartisan efforts to solve the country’s problems, no matter who is in the White House. He certainly understands the process and the issues; he has made rewriting the tax code a priority. While we may not agree with everything he wants done — we have supported, for example, the Affordable Care Act and think it can be strengthened without starting over as Roskam suggests — we’re confident he can represent the suburbs effectively and forge compromises that lead to meaningful accomplishments in the House.

For her part, Coolidge, a retired accountant from Barrington Hills, is facing an uphill battle in a district that the Democrats haven’t targeted as winnable. She says Roskam is too conservative on social issues, which he is, but she does not make a strong enough case for herself on solving the economic issues of the day.

The 6th District takes in portions of Lake, McHenry, Kane, Cook and DuPage counties.