Oct. 01--Rep. Peter Roskam, a Republican from Wheaton, will not seek a leadership post in the House after Speaker John Boehner's resignation, he said in a letter Wednesday to his 246 GOP colleagues.
Roskam, 54, entered Congress in 2007 and was chief deputy whip of the House from 2011 to 2014, when he lost a bid to be elected whip, the No. 3 post after speaker and majority leader. The whip corrals votes and helps shape the party's message.
The House GOP will choose new leaders Oct. 8. Approval of the next speaker requires a majority vote by the entire House, Republicans and Democrats.
In his letter, Roskam urged the GOP-led Congress to "aggressively" assert its constitutional authority against President Barack Obama's administration and "be more provocative in our challenges so as to command more of the narrative of these debates."
He also said the GOP should reflect on what is expected of House leaders. "Right now, we ask of our leaders the impossible task of being on the road, in our districts, and in the press -- all while fulfilling other vital policy and communications responsibilities," he said.
Roskam on Wednesday was one of three federal lawmakers from Illinois to vote against funding the government on a stopgap spending bill through Dec. 11, averting a shutdown.
The others who opposed the spending bill were Republican Reps. Randy Hultgren of west suburban Plano and Darin LaHood of Dunlap, near Peoria. Despite more Republicans voting against the spending bill than in favor of it, it passed 277-151.
kskiba@tribpub.com
