WASHINGTON DC - Leading up to Tuesday night's State of the Union Address, Congressman Peter Roskam (IL-06) voiced frustration about the obstacles facing US House Republicans and concern about Illinois' financial condition via press call from Washington DC.
In the effort to hold back the Obama Administration's persistent efforts to resist spending cuts and plunge the nation deeper into debt, "We're doing the best we can," Roskam said. "We're one-half of one-third of the federal government. Without the Senate and White House cooperation, all House Republicans can do is restrain efforts such as cap and trade and union efforts, he said.
Roskam, who also serves on House Speaker John Boehner's leadership team, said that while sequestration of the military budget will be a challenge, in the long run, the spending cut will be good for the nation's economy. "The Democrats show no creativity in their solutions," he said.
Democrats at the national level are following Illinois' disastrous financial pattern, he said. "Illinois has become the example of how not to govern. They think that avoidance behavior works."
Roskam was especially concerned about Illinois plunging into Obamacare and expanding the number of Medicaid patients statewide, as Illinois Senate Bill 26 proposes.
If Illinois enters the Obamacare health care exchange model, the number of Medicaid patients will explode, he said.
"I see the floodgates opening Illinois if they expand Medicaid, putting the state deeper into liabilities. They need to proceed in an entirely different direction, Roskam said. "It doesn't have to be that way. Illinois should be leading the Midwest in jobs, revenue and economic growth."
"The state is now leaning on its past reputation," Roskam said.
The Congressman will be in attendance this evening at the Capitol as President Obama outlines his administration's agenda for the coming year.
