After being fired by the voters for siding with the ultra-wealthy and the special interests, it’s clear this week that Bobby Schilling still hasn’t learned his lesson. A new poll from the Chicago Tribune reveals that the overwhelming majority of voters in Illinois want to raise the minimum wage, but Schilling opposes raising the minimum wage, even as he claims to struggle to live “paycheck to paycheck” on his $100,000 salary.
“Bobby Schilling has made it crystal clear when he opposes raising the minimum wage but complains about living paycheck to paycheck that he’s not on the side of middle class families,” said Brandon Lorenz of the Democratic c Congressional Campaign Committee. “This new poll shows that voters made the right decision when they fired Bobby Schilling in 2012 because he will only oppose ideas that would help the middle class, like raising the minimum wage.”
BACKGROUND:
Chicago Tribune: 69% of Illinois Voters Support Raising the Minimum Wage. According to Capitol Fax, “The [Tribune] poll found 69 percent of Illinois voters back an increase in the state’s $8.25-an-hour minimum wage to $10 by Jan. 1 for adults over age 18. Only 27 percent oppose the proposal, while 5 percent had no opinion. The statewide poll, conducted among 800 registered voters Sept. 3-12, had a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.” [Capitol Fax, 9/16/14; Chicago Tribune, 9/16/14]
- Headline: Poll: Illinois voters back referendum issues [Chicago Tribune, 9/16/14]
Schilling Believed Raising the Minimum Wage would have a Negative Impact. In 2014 WTVI WQRF News reported that Schilling, “believes the increase could have a negative effect on small business owners but when it comes to the small business in America these small ma and pa shops it’s going to actually put a lot of those folks out of business.” [WTVI WQRF, 1/28/14]
- Headline: Minimum Wage Hike Could Help Local Workers [WTVI WQRF, 1/28/14]
Schilling Claimed to Live “Paycheck-to-Paycheck” Like “Most Americans.” In August 2014, Bobby Schilling gave an interview on a WROK News Talk show in which he claimed to live paycheck-to-paycheck, saying “the folks that are living paycheck-to-paycheck, which is most Americans, including myself.” [WROK 1440 News Talk, 8/5/14]
- Headline: Schilling says he lives “paycheck to paycheck” [Capitol Fax, 8/7/14]
- Headline: Schilling says he’s living paycheck to paycheck [Dispatch-Argus, 8/7/14]
Schilling Protested for Claiming to Live Paycheck to Paycheck. In September 2014, Schilling was protested by Peoria area union members over comments he had made during a radio interview that he was living paycheck to paycheck, despite a $100,000 a year salary listed on his PFD. Schilling’s campaign noted that Schilling had made less this year because he had been working part time due to the campaign. [Peoria Journal Star, 9/17/14]
- Headline: Union members criticize 17th District GOP candidate Bobby Schilling for radio remarks [Peoria Journal Star, 9/17/14]
- Headline: UAW Protest Schilling’s “Paycheck to Paycheck” Claim [WIFR, 9/15/14]