Two years ago today, former Congressman Bobby Schilling walked out on Sensata workers who lost their jobs after they confronted him in a town hall for voting to protect tax breaks for corporations that ship jobs overseas. Infamous corporate raiders at Bain Capital had taken over the Sensata factory in Schilling’s district and were preparing to lay off some 170 workers when Schilling refused to answer their questions and instead walked out of their town hall meeting.
Schilling even callously blamed the laid off workers themselves by suggesting they weren’t “serious“ about trying to get their jobs back.
Watch the video of Bobby Schilling walking out on Sensata workers here: LINK
When he was in Congress, Schilling twice voted for Congressman Paul Ryan’s radical budgets that would have established a “territorial tax system” and allowed companies to pay only the tax rate of the country where profits are earned. According to the Tax Policy Center, exempting these offshore earnings from U.S. tax liability would “encourage some domestic companies to move more of their operations – and shift both jobs and more reported income – to low tax countries.”
Since he was fired by voters after walking out on the workers, Schilling hasn’t learned his lesson and continues to push policies that have hurt the middle class. Schilling has been called more “tea partier than ever.” He has taken $5,000 from Paul Ryan as he tries to win his seat back, more evidence that he’s on board with Congressman Paul Ryan’s irresponsible budgets.
“In Congress, Bobby Schilling showed how disconnected from reality he was by voting to give tax breaks to corporations that shipped jobs overseas and then by walking out of a meeting with workers whose jobs were sent to China,” said Brandon Lorenz of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Bobby Schilling is completely clueless to think that he can win back his seat after walking out on the people who were hurt most by his agenda and priorities.”
BACKGROUND:
Schilling Walked Out on Sensata Workers during Town Hall Meeting. In September 2012, Schilling walked out of a town hall with Sensata workers confronted Schilling regarding his vote against the Bring Jobs Home Act and the impending closure of the Freeport, IL plant. Progress Illinois reported: “When Tom Gaulrapp, one of the workers set to lose his job after working at the Bain Capital-owned company for 33 years, asked Schilling if he would support a bill that would offer companies tax incentives for bringing overseas jobs back to the U.S. and also close loopholes that allow corporations to ship American jobs overseas, like the Bring American Jobs Home Act, Schilling refused to answer and walked out of the meeting.” [ProgressIllinois, 9/19/12]
- Left the Room and Had Son Answer Question. In 2012, Schilling refused to answer a question from Sensata employees who demanded to know if he’d support a bill that would punish outsourcers. “Schilling fled the room and left his flack to say no,” according to the New York Daily News. Schilling’s campaign manager and son, Terry answered the question for the Congressman saying “He said no. He does not support the bill.” [ProgressIllinois,9/19/12; Daily News, 9/20/12]
Schilling Called Bring Jobs Home Act a “Political” Bill. In 2012, Schilling said, “Here’s the thing: If [the Bring Jobs Home Act] were a good bill, I would be on it. It only has 18 co-sponsors. It was done 4 months ago. It was put together for political purposes.” [Sauk Valley Newspapers, 10/18/12]
Schilling Criticized for Not Keeping Local Jobs as Sensata Plant Closed. In 2012, Sensata Technologies, a subsidiary of Bain Capital, announced plans to close its Freeport, IL plant by the end of 2012 – leaving 170 workers jobless. Sensata employees criticized Schilling for not doing enough to protect their jobs and pointed to his vote against the Bring Jobs Home Act as proof. [Journal-Standard, 8/10/12]
Tech Workers facing Plant Closure felt “Betrayed” by Schilling. In 2012, Sensata employees rallied outside a Schilling fundraiser featuring John Boehner. They accused Schilling of betraying them by voting against the Bring Jobs Home Act after he wrote a letter to Sensata CEO expressing concerns about the potential plant closure in Freeport, IL. “He (Schilling) said he supported us, but then when it came time to vote on the ‘Bring Jobs Home Act,’ he voted against us […] Anyone can write a letter, but when it comes down to it, they fall in line. They couldn’t care less about our jobs or our families. I hope he knows that the next time he decides to show up in Freeport, we’re going to be there,” said Tom Gaulrapp, a Sensata employee. [Journal-Standard, 8/10/12]