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* Former Republican Congressman Bobby Schilling, who’s trying to win back his former seat, was interviewed on WROK Radio the other day. He was asked about increased health insurance costs. Check the 6:10 mark for his response…
* The DCCC “helpfully” reproduced Schiling’s full comment…
“These increases, these are on our working poor, our middle class, hardworking taxpayers here across the United States of America. And now these folks are going to have to decide am I going to pay this premium or am I going to go buy some milk and groceries for the house. It’s really getting tough for everyone. Everyone that I talk to, I don’t hear them saying ‘hey, I’m doing great’. And the folks that are living paycheck-to-paycheck, which is most Americans, including myself, is that, you know, this is not something that you want to be putting out when you’ve got a kid that wants to play sports or you want to take a trip for vacation. Instead, you’ve got to funnel your money over to Obamacare, which is something you might never have to use.” [Emphasis added for obvious reasons.]
* Schilling reported income of $100,000 last year. Schilling also listed assets of between $254,007 and $660,000.
He’s not rich by any stretch, and he does have a big family to support. But Schilling makes more than twice his district’s median household income of $42,521.
* His job, by the way, is at CMB Regional Centers. Some DCCC-provided background on the company from a local story about Schilling…
He works for CMB Regional Centers of Rock Island. The company pools money from foreign investors who want permanent residency and investment opportunities in the United States. It utilizes the federal EB-5 visa program, which extends visas to foreign investors willing to put at least $500,000 into projects that create or preserve at least 10 jobs in the U.S.
That same visa program was featured prominently in a recent Fortune magazine story about a major scam in Illinois involving mostly Chinese visas that we we discussed here not long ago.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 11:18 am
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And the fifteen straight years of high health insurance premium growth prior to the ACA is Obamacare’s fault too?
Actually that growth is finally slowing down.
Whatever works for you as a candidate, I guess.
Comment by walker Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 11:26 am
what starting a pizza chain with yen?
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 11:28 am
I hope that what he is doing is not a scam also. If legit, it can be a good program. Naturally I am always suspicious.
However, the country is being scammed by the lack of serious deportation of illegal aliens, visa ‘overstays’, supposed refugees, etc.
If it in any way can be proven that what he does is not above board, then he is toast.
Comment by Federalist Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 11:31 am
He’s probably not too far from living paycheck to paycheck, but it’s hard to use that line if you’re perceived as having a high income. Lots of kids can eat away at those incomes, especially when they get to the college age (not sure how old his kids are).
Just the same, can’t you encourage the folks out there to each add just one more ingredient to their pizzas and together they could get him a month or two ahead.
Comment by A guy... Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 11:32 am
Don’t defend the premium increases. Don’t defend the poor policy. Instead, try to make the argument that Schilling somehow isn’t living paycheck to paycheck when he has ten kids and makes under $100k/year, while his opponent lives in her $275,000 Washington DC condo and has a net worth close to $5 million.
That should do the trick.
Comment by Amateur Hour Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 11:37 am
Poor guy, facing the possibility of not being able to go on vacation or pay for sports for his kid. I’m a parent, and yes, those are stresses. But that’s not living paycheck to paycheck.
#firstworldproblems
Comment by Commander Norton Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 11:40 am
Sorry, Bobby. Maybe if you hadn’t lied about Cheri Bustos in your TV commercials in your last campaign, you’d still have your seat.
Oh, and my monthly health insurance premium went from $678 to $200 under Obamacare. And, uh, if you ever go to the doctor or hospital, you WILL have to use Obamacare, so I think most voters fall into that category.
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 11:45 am
But you fail to mention that his assets are land. Not the most liquid assets nor are a cash equivalent. Kind of deceiving.
Also with the price of groceries, gas, and utilities under this administration, a salary of 100K a year doesn’t go far for a family of 12 these days.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 11:45 am
The logical extension of his argument is that paying for health insurance is bad because you might never have to use it. That’s just an absurd point.
Comment by Bunson8r Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 11:45 am
Oh PizzaBobby why do you open the mouth? Always something stupid falls out. SpeakerBoner must be so disappointed he penciled in your district on his swing thru IL. He could have spent more time rubbing noses with BIG CAT et al instead of you
Yikes
Fire, Aim Ready!
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 11:47 am
Interesting that the DCCC is active in a district that many thought was a forgone conclusion for Bustos.
Comment by Just Saying Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 11:48 am
Bobby Schilling is nothing but a political puppet.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 11:48 am
Streator, are you saying in an apple to apple comparison your healthcare coverage dropped $478/month? Please elaborate.
Comment by Wally Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 11:49 am
–And now these folks are going to have to decide am I going to pay this premium or am I going to go buy some milk and groceries for the house. It’s really getting tough for everyone.–
The WSJ reports today that 90% of those who choose to remain uninsured will not be fined due to various waivers and exemptions.
They will, of course, still be mooches when they show up at the emergency room.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 11:53 am
Hey; “just saying”, why would the DCCC take this race for granted? They know Cheri is a gem and they, as well as the Bustos campaign, will do anything ethically to keep her in office.
Comment by ethicslover Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 11:55 am
Amateur - A $275K condo in DC doesn’t seem like very luxurious living (and has according to her financial disclosures a mortgage between $100K and $250K). But if you are complaining that the focus should be on the premium increase issue why pull Bustos’ net worth into to it?
A little more on her ‘$5 MM’ net worth from 2012 / QConOnline:
“Cheri Bustos has a net worth of between $1.097 million and $5.965 million, according to her personal financial disclosure. But the net worth of the former East Moline alderwoman is skewed because she included the value of the pension of her husband, Gerry Bustos, in her financial disclosure.
Mr. Bustos is a captain with the Rock Island County Sheriff’s Department; the value of his pension is listed as between $1 million and $5 million, which is an estimate of the total amount he could earn over his retirement. He will earn a pension of $4,100 a month when he retires and the value of the pension is based on an average male life expectancy of 78.
Subtract that pension, and Ms. Bustos’s net worth is somewhere between $967,000 and negative $2,000.”
Comment by midway gardens Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 11:58 am
Once again, the DCCC takes the low rode. I know plenty of physicians, lawyers, business persons, teachers, mechanics, contractors, etc. who are living “paycheck to paycheck” based upon their own personal household expenses. Larger families have greeater hoursehold expenses, including health insurance costs! We do not know his financial obligations and should accept his explanation. I am immune to this class warfare nonsense and am unimporssed by the DCCC’s embracing of this tactic.
Comment by Black Ivy Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 12:19 pm
Living paycheck to paycheck on $100,000 a year is different than living paycheck to paycheck on $20,000 a year, which is what my staff make.
Comment by Aldyth Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 12:44 pm
Um … Bobby doesn’t have to pay the premiums. He can pay a little more in taxes.
Like virtually all those opposed to Obamacare, he never offers an alternative solution to health care.
I’m tired of paying higher premiums and higher taxes to support those who use health care but don’t pay their way. What about that Bobby?
Comment by Sir Reel Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 12:55 pm
Not exactly apples to apples, but smacks of the “out of touchness” of HRC’s recent comments about her and Bill living paycheck to paycheck post white house.
Comment by Boone's is Back Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 1:07 pm
When you drive big black SUVs around town and have a half million dollar houses and kids in private schools it’s difficult. With ten kids and all these bills I bet Bobbyis living paycheck to paycheck, as are the majority of Americans. Give the guy a break as he’s about to lose again for Congress.
Comment by DateNight Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 1:16 pm
Does his spouse work full time? Part time? Are his kids still at home? Paying for college or saving for college? $100k take home for a family is NOT extravagant by any means.
Comment by Allen Skillicorn Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 1:55 pm
Bobby is my neighbor. He has ten children and a stay at home spouse. He does not live extravagantly by any stretch and is very approachable and down to earth. He even fixes his own car and changes the oil and built his home with his own hands. This is not a country club guy.
Comment by Jon Zahm Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 2:47 pm
He may very well be a wonderful guy and doing his best to live within his means. But I still wonder, why does he think a vacation is more important than health insurance for his family? I suspect that even with an income of $100K, his 10 kids might make him eligible for a discount under the ACA. It might save him money! I have neither the time nor the inclination to look this up, but it would be interesting if someone did.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 3:34 pm
Where are the people saying they dont want health insurance? antecdotally I cant find a single person telling me they dont want helath insurance.
They guy who cant go on vacation becuase of having health insurance…what about the family that cant get regualr medical care or has a family memebr who has a serious illness?
So far I have only seen people with health insurance coverage complaining about health coverage for all. When Schilling cancels all of his health care so he can have extra money for groceries and vacationns I will listen to how bad he thinks it is….
We were one of the last first world countries to implement health care for our citizens, and we think it is bad?
Comment by Ghost Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 3:42 pm
Well, if making $100,000 a year is not much, I guess there is no need to attack state employee salaries.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 4:30 pm
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 4:30 pm:
Well, if making $100,000 a year is not much, I guess there is no need to attack state employee salaries.
Great Response!
Comment by Federalist Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 5:51 pm
Look Bobby, you and your wife CHOSE to have 10 kids. That “live within your means” canard cuts both ways…and includes family size.
Comment by GraduatedCollegeStudent Thursday, Aug 7, 14 @ 7:27 pm
Life and kids are more important than fun.
You’ll discover that when you grow up.
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 8:13 am
===Life and kids are more important than fun.
You’ll discover that when you grow up. ===
Sure. Just don’t complain about how you’re living paycheck-to-paycheck despite a $100,000 salary if you have 10 kids. I believe the appropriate phrase is “Taking Responsibility for your actions.”
Comment by GraduatedCollegeStudent Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 8:52 am
Dude…Bustos had an annual income of $400,000 in 2010…and currently has over $6 million in assets.
If Bobby is making $100k and complaining about the hurt of Obamacare, then what is it doing to people who make half that?
This isn’t rocket science. What a distraction.
Comment by i miss illinois Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:16 pm
“Life and kids are more important than fun.
You’ll discover that when you grow up.”
Yes Life and kids are important but anything in excess is bad - and that includes kids.
unless you want to exceed the chinese population and invite all problems like poverty, underemployment, low wages etc that come with too many people.
we are not living in biblical times. 2-3 kids ok.. 10-15 ? not ok
Comment by gary Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 2:48 pm
Of course what isn’t mentioned is that his kids are grown and have jobs…even if some are working for his campaign
Comment by Turtle Tuesday, Aug 19, 14 @ 10:33 pm