After Peter Roskam lost his campaign for majority whip, Republicans rewarded the Illinois congressman with a new, high-profile job as chair of the Oversight Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Roskam replaces Louisiana Rep. Charles Boustany in the government watchdog gig, which reports to newly minted Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan, Wisconsin rep and Mitt Romney's former running mate.
"I am honored to be named to this key oversight role," Roskam said Thursday in a statement on his promotion (via Greg Hinz). "My focus will be on vigilant, fact-based and fair investigations into the administration and its sprawling bureacracy."
Praising Ryan's "big vision" for America, Roskam continued: "These past few years have shown us the real dangers of agencies run amok, and frankly it's become all too common for citizens to be in the cross-hairs of their own federal government. But in this moment of both Republican House and Senate, we have an incredible opportunity to shine a light into the dark corners, and restore the checks and balances that the founders intended."
The 53-year-old Roskam, who hails from the western Chicago suburb of Wheaton, was in a prime spot to move up the congressional ladder to become House majority whip last summer following Speaker Eric Cantor's stunning, shake-up-inducing primary loss. But he was passed over for Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise.
