Former Congressman Bobby Schilling seems to be losing his grip on reality. First he claimed to live “paycheck to paycheck” on his $100,000 salary, then yesterday, he made the absurd and indefensible claim that he somehow never turned his back on Sensata workers, despite clear video evidence to the contrary.
The Quad City Times reported late yesterday: “When at least some of the Sensata workers left the room, Schilling returned to the front of the room, according to a video of the incident posted at the time by Schilling’s campaign. ‘They’re saying Schilling walked out on constituents. That’s a lie,’ the Republican said in an interview Tuesday.”
“Here’s a recap of the tape: Congressman Schilling gets hard questions from people who have to work for living about why he voted to ship their jobs to China but instead of answering to those workers with their livelihoods on the line, Congressman Schilling skulked to the back of the room and hid until the workers left. Profiles. In. Courage. Congressman Schilling’s excuses are just as empty as his phony claim to live paycheck to paycheck on a $100,000 salary.”
Watch the video of Bobby Schilling walking out on Sensata workers here. Once the video emerged, Schilling callously blamed the laid off workers themselves by suggesting they weren’t “serious” about trying to get their jobs back.
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 that protect tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas.
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]