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* From a press release…
Bobby Schilling (R-Colona) is challenging incumbent Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-East Moline) to follow through on her promise to give up 10 percent of her pay by donating $34,800 to a veterans charity of her choice.
“Promises made should be promises kept,” Schilling said. “When I ran for Congress, I promised to reject the congressional pension and health care plans, vote against all pay raises for legislators, and lead by example—these are promises I kept. Congresswoman Bustos promised to reject 10 percent of her pay—that amounts to $34,800—but she has failed to do that. Today I am challenging Congresswoman Bustos to do the right thing and donate that $34,800 to a veterans charity of her choice. Not only would that be a worthy cause and an appropriate use of the money, but it might also help Congresswoman Bustos start to repair her relationship with veterans after she voted to cut $6 billion to benefits for disabled veterans and their families last year.”
* In September of 2012, Bustos was interviewed by the Chicago Tribune editorial board and pushed an idea to cut congressional pay by 10 percent. An edit board member pressed her on whether she’d give up 10 percent of her pay voluntarily if her bill didn’t pass…
Cheri Bustos: “And I’m saying, though, this is a vote. That every member of Congress takes a 10 percent pay cut, and there’s a pay freeze until we—we get this under…”
Interviewer: “I’m sorry, I’m confused. Are you—if you’re elected—are you saying to whoever the HR department is—”keep 10 percent of my pay.” Are you—it’s yes or no. Are you going to voluntarily give up ten percent of your salary?”
Cheri Bustos: “I’m saying that—yes. And I would—I would take a—I would propose that there is a vote to cut 10 percent of the pay for every member of Congress.”
Interviewer: “But you would do it regardless?”
Cheri Bustos: “I’m sorry?”
Interviewer: “You would do it regardless of how the vote turns out?”
Cheri Bustos: “Yes.”
* Listen for yourself…
* Bustos never did have ten percent of her pay deducted from her salary. And check out her campaign’s lame response…
Bustos’ campaign manager, Jeremy Jansen, said she “misspoke,” adding that Wednesday was the first time he heard the recording.
“Cheri Bustos has been a leader in fighting for more Congressional accountability, which is why she voted for the No Budget, No Pay Act, which forced members like herself to put skin in the game and prevented them from collecting any pay until they did their jobs and passed a budget,” Jansen wrote in an email. “Cheri misspoke in the midst of a discussion regarding budget proposals similar to this, but to that end supports legislation that would cut lawmakers’ pay 10 percent and looks forward to it coming up for a vote.”
Sorry, but that ain’t gonna fly.
* Bustos beat Schilling last time around mainly by claiming that Schilling had become “too DC” during his first term. But Schilling refused to accept congressional health insurance and pension benefits during his one and only term, so he can now turn this very issue back on Bustos in a potentially game-changing maneuver.
I cannot believe nobody took note of this promise at the time and made sure Bustos followed through. Big mistake. She probably needs to make that donation.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 9:23 am
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and be sure the money does not come from the campaign fund…..
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 9:32 am
A lying politician? I shocked there’s gambling at Rick’s
Comment by Kakistocracy Kid Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 9:36 am
===Bustos’ campaign manager, Jeremy Jansen, said she “misspoke,” adding that Wednesday was the first time he heard the recording.===
1) pretty clear.
Interviewer: “You would do it regardless of how the vote turns out?”
Cheri Bustos: “Yes.”
2) no one cares if the campaign manager heard it Wednesday, the 3rd Tuesday in May, or 5 minutes ago. You Principle said it, clearly, and not one in that Crew or Bustos herself thought about the follow-through.
=== “Cheri misspoke in the midst of a discussion regarding budget proposals similar to this, but to that end supports legislation that would cut lawmakers’ pay 10 percent and looks forward to it coming up for a vote.”===
You can’t make a promise to do something within a time frame, than ignore it, and then double down on the vote that didn’t matter in the first place because you promised an action you blatantly ignored.
Congressman Bustos. You promised. Period. It was straight-forward, you said “yes” and you failed to do what you personally promised about something you could have very easily controlled.
This isn’t a couple hundred dollars.
This is an expensive car - $34,000
This is a down payment on a $170,000 home.
This is real money to people in the district.
This is a pathetic attempt to back-pedal on a pandering promise made, in hopes, possibly, others would forget. Embarrassing and pathetic response when your own words make your pandering seem even more disingenuous.
Own it. Eat it. Apologize for it. Move on from it.
All of you in handling this…Dopes.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 9:37 am
This race is close for a reason. Although it was gerrymandered into being a +4 D congressional district, Schilling won in 2010 against a classic old fashioned Democrat in a GOP midterm landslide when he beat Phil Hare. With Obama at the top of the ballot in a presidential year, the district swung to Bustos.
It is right back to a similar situation as in 2010. Take a look at total votes and who is voting during mid-term and presidential years, and you see how Schilling won, and can win again this year.
Bustos needs a break to hold on. This situation was not only preventable and a mistake to have allowed to occur - it puts Schilling into the lead with five weeks to go, four weeks once this gets out of the news cycle with a donation.
This changes things - Schilling looks like he will win again.
If I were he, however, I would advise him to stay packed upon arrival in DC. This district, depending on the 2016 presidential election, may swing it back into the Democrat’s favor two years from now.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 9:38 am
It’s pretty clear from that interview that donating the money was never her intention. She was trying to be a “populist” and was trying to take credit for supporting a 10% pay cut she knew would never pass. She thought the public, and her opponent, were too stupid to notice she reneged. Kinda like when Obama, Reid, Durbin and a gaggle of other Dems claimed you could “keep your insurance and doctor” under Obamacare.
She just “forgot about” a $34K donation?. Riiiiight. She welched on a promise to support her greed. Her opponent didn’t. That’s a big deal in this election.
Comment by Arizona Bob Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 9:42 am
The problem with saying anything it takes to get elected is that every so often some pesky person will call you on one of your promises.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 9:46 am
You didn’t really expect Cheri to actually “walk the walk” did you? However, you did notice that she is quite good at “talking the talk”, though. Therefore, she possesses the most important qualification to become an excellent career politician. Cheri knows how to “promise you everything you want to hear” but yet she also knows how to fail to deliver on her promises. Yep, she will get elected.
Comment by Coffee Cup Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 9:52 am
I want to live in a world where politicians give up 10% of their paycheck every time they pander.
Comment by Bobby Hill Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 9:52 am
She misspoke….
Actually she was hacked, yeah that’s the ticket. Someone hacked her brain or the audio recording was hacked…
Yep… that’s it.
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 9:55 am
==Kinda like when Obama, Reid, Durbin and a gaggle of other Dems claimed you could “keep your insurance and doctor” under Obamacare.==
See if you can make a comment without referencing some national talking point, especially one that is completely irrelevant to the discussion. Stop being the victim, Bob. It’s unbecoming.
To the post . . . This isn’t something you can get away with saying you misspoke about. She’s been called out and there isn’t anything else to do but pay up. The response by her campaign manager has just made this situation 10 times worse.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 9:55 am
I’m confused. I thought congress critters less than $200k. How does 10% equate to $34,800. Is Schilling factoring in the pension/ health care costs?
Comment by Boone's is Back Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 9:55 am
10% of 2 years worth of pay I assume.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 9:57 am
==I’m confused. I thought congress critters less than $200k. How does 10% equate to $34,800. ==
The net take home amount for two years, maybe?
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 9:58 am
This issue has been percolating for a while and should not be a surprise to anyone.
Bustos and her team are very smart. I’m really surprised they are giving traction to Schilling on this.
It’s not like she couldn’t afford it. Very strange.
Comment by LincolnLounger Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 9:59 am
@Boone’s:
Members of Congress make $174,000 a year. She will serve for two years so multiply that by 2 and take 10% and you get $34,800.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 10:00 am
Too bad the term “misspoke” wasn’t around when Dick Nixon was president. He misspoke plenty of times, including all those expletives on his tapes. Sounds to me like Bustos is going to be fined $34,800 for lying, which, all things considered, would be cheap if it helps win a congressional election.
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 10:03 am
Bustos was never in this for anything besides to run for Senate some day.
Her entire political story is one of political favors.
1. She had the district redrawn to her liking.
2. She had her father’s long time friend and colleague clear the primary field for her.
3. She had Emily’s list bundle hundreds of thousands for her off the bat.
She never actually earned the spot. All of this was handpicked, hand drawn, and hand delivered to her.
The least she could do is keep the promises that she made to reporters and voters.
Comment by i miss illinois Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 10:04 am
D’oh!
Comment by phocion Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 10:09 am
Sounds like she does not want to honor her commitment, which was clear to anyone with ears. If she does not do it, I hope they run her out of office. If people would honor their commitments we would be better off, it would also have a likely side effect of curtailing the “magic bean” types of campaign promises.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 10:16 am
This is particularly damaging because of the manner in which she campaigned last time.
That comment was no misstatement. Talk about being “too D.C.”. Sheesh.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 10:20 am
Gotta pay up. That is such an easy and powerful ad. “Cheri Bustos lied to you…”
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 10:20 am
She misspoke??? Pay up and it goes away. Dumb.
Comment by À guy Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 10:21 am
The problem now is even if she does pay, and she will pay, the spokesman quote is out there as well and that does not help.
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 10:23 am
I thought it was illegal to run for office and promise to return part of your salary? Otherwise everyone would do that and only the wealthy could serve.
Comment by Kirk Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 10:26 am
OneMan: Couldn’t agree more. Plus, Schilling will get the bragging rights for holding HER accountable. “If he can hold our member of congress accountable, think what he can do in Washington.”
Comment by Just Saying Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 10:27 am
**I thought it was illegal to run for office and promise to return part of your salary? Otherwise everyone would do that and only the wealthy could serve.**
Kinda’ like Bruce Rauner.
Comment by AlabamaShake Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 10:29 am
@Demoralized
=See if you can make a comment without referencing some national talking point, especially one that is completely irrelevant to the discussion.=
Bustos is running for the US Congress, and her behavior, and party, make this a national issue.
The issue here is Democratic candidate’s bold face lying to the people and trying to get away without consequences. The analogy fits. It’s not a talking point, it’s an apparent methodology used throughout the Dem party.
The old bromide is that if something happens once, it’s an isloted event. If it happens twice, it’s a coincidence. If it happens multiple times, it’s trend and a conspiracy. The serial lying here seems to fit that last category.
If you find that I wrote “unbecoming” as a partisan Dem, I apologize for it hurting your feelings if it offended you.
Comment by Arizona Bob Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 10:29 am
I know a couple of Presidents have refused a salary or only taken a dollar…
Also don’t see how the law could prevent you from returning money to the US Treasury.
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 10:32 am
Arizona Bob:
The issue is not a “bald face lie.”
The issue is that no one thought through the pay cut proposal before they through it out there. Like term limits, it is one of those populist things that most candidates don’t think through.
That said:
Bustos: “I am going to do even better. We are going to donate $50,000 from my campaign to [name the united ways across the district] and I challenge Mr Shilling to match it.”
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 10:36 am
===Bustos: “I am going to do even better. We are going to donate $50,000 from my campaign to [name the united ways across the district] and I challenge Mr Shilling to match it.”===
Agreed. That’s the pivot.
===It’s not like she couldn’t afford it.===
Make the “make good” a challenge. Worth a shot.
Still, incredibly ignorant to be in this position in the first place.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 10:38 am
You can’t use CAMPAIGN funds to make up for this. That’s completely unethical. Donors to her campaign didn’t donate so she could keep a personal campaign promise.
And Schilling gave up the health care. That’s well over the $34k.
Comment by i miss illinois Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 10:40 am
This is no problem, she will just blame Bush.
Comment by Empty Suit Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 10:45 am
I wonder why the teachers’ unions endorsed Rep. Crespo (D, Hoffman Estates) but not his next door neighbor, Rep. Musmann (D, Schaumburg)? Both of them voted for the Madigan pension grab, but only one of them gets punished (no endorsement by the IFT and endorsement for the Republican by the IEA).
Comment by Anon Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 10:49 am
@Demoralized
=Bustos: “I am going to do even better. We are going to donate $50,000 from my campaign to [name the united ways across the district] and I challenge Mr Shilling to match it.”=
There’s no personal sacrifice there, and it just means she’ll have to shake down more of those bribing her with campaign contributions to make good on it.
She already has been proven to be dishonest. The only question now is if she has enough honor to make personal sacrifice to atone for it.
Just curious. Who has more personal wealth, Schilling or Bustos?
Comment by Arizona Bob Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 10:54 am
I miss Illinois:
You go ahead and stay on the side that argues she should give $34,500, I will be on the side pledging $50,000.
Do you think the veterans care which account it comes out of?
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 10:58 am
Do you think the veterans care which account it comes out of?
There is a long tradition of them caring more than usual in this particular district.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 11:08 am
Needs to be out of her own pocket and not campaign contributions or some wealth donor privately giving her the money.
This is not over.
A tough district for Schilling to win but has a decent shot. If he does win maintaining the seat might be difficult.
Schilling was not popular with many rank and file Republicans who thought he went from populist to a part of the Republican establishment. He has to change that image and get them excited about his candidacy.
As to Bustos, she is a solid Obama backer on any important issue that is not totally and glaringly contrary to her district. Don’t see how that helps her.
I live in the 17th and she does not answer emails or gives vague nonsense answers that are as evasive as the interview above demonstrates.
Comment by Federalist Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 11:15 am
Seems to me, considering Bobby Schillings family situation(10 kids), that he sacrificed plenty giving up health coverage and pension benefits.
Trying to up the ante to 50 grand when she didn’t live up to her word to donate $34.5K, and challenge Schilling to do the same is completely disingenuous. Schilling probably hopes she does make that offer because it would likely be a complete game changer.
Comment by Wally Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 11:17 am
Pay up, Cheri, and move on.
Comment by Nearly Normal Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 11:19 am
Holding yapping, over-promising pols to their promises is just one of the values of Capitolfax. BS is BS regardless of party or stripe. Thanks
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 11:28 am
==If you find that I wrote “unbecoming” as a partisan Dem==
Um, I’m not a partisan Dem. I actually consider myself an independent and have voted for candidates of both parties. But that’s funny line coming from the poster boy for partisanship.
All I ever ask for in any discussion is a bit of honesty and you lack that. The kind of behavior exhibited by the Congresswoman is par for the course (unfortunately) for some of our politicians. You, however, choose to use a tired talking point spouted off 1,000 times a day by individuals who can’t think for themselves and simply regurgitate the catchy line of the day. I could name numerous instances of politicians pulling the same stunt that she did, yet you choose the tired Obamacare reference because that’s what partisans like you do. That’s fine. But don’t insult our intelligence by pretending you don’t have a partisan dog in the fight.
==ustos is running for the US Congress, and her behavior, and party==
Again with the party reference. Again, Bob, you lack honesty. I’d take you more seriously if you could exhibit just a modicum of it.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 11:29 am
By the way, @Arizona Bob, I agree that she’s a dope for not following through and that her campaign manager is a dope for trying to say she “misspoke.” But, again, don’t pretend this has anything to do with political parties. That’s just pathetic.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 11:32 am
==This is no problem, she will just blame Bush.==
We’ve got so many victims around here we need an ambulance and the police on standby.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 11:32 am
When listening to her answer, Candidate Bustos seems to slide over her “Yes” response and move on to another subject. If she had intended to establish that she was taking a 10% pay cut, she didn’t do a very good job of it in the interview. A reasonable argument could be made that she “misspoke.” Did she use the 10% pay cut in her campaign literature?
I really think the legislative action she was promoting was meant to give the impression of taking a real pay cut when she should have known it would never pass. The interviewers knew that and tried to nail her down. The correct terminology isn’t “misspoke,” but tripped up.
Comment by Louis Howe Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 11:40 am
Might have to send the Pizza Man a check again this cycle.
Comment by Doug Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 12:09 pm
==Bustos: “I am going to do even better. We are going to donate $50,000 from my campaign to [name the united ways across the district] and I challenge Mr Shilling to match it.” ==
Good plan. Alternate, cynical plan.
Bustos to lackey: “You know my nephew needs an internship? Can you find a veterans’ organization that will hire him for the fall semester?”
Comment by Robert the Bruce Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 12:28 pm
@YDD
“You go ahead and stay on the side that argues she should give $34,500, I will be on the side pledging $50,000.”
Translation for non-ILDems: “You go ahead and stay on the side that argues she should give $34,500 OF HER OWN MONEY, I will be on the side pledging $50,000 OF SOMONE ELSE’S”
Why pay your own obligations when you can get a deep pocket donor to do it for you? It’s the DC way!
Thanks for the lesson, YDD.
Comment by Reader Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 12:38 pm
Bustos needs to find a way out of this mess;
1) Pay the $34K+, directly from her own personal funds, ask for forgiveness.
2) Pay, say $50K, “half hers, half campaign”, whatever, butore than $35K, challenge Schilling to do the same. Hope that pivoting off what is owed is overshadowed by the gesture.
3) Stand put on this utterly Dopey idea of the Keystone Kops/Sgt. Schultz dance, and this will stick with ya for quite some time as a welcher, and someone whose word can’t be trusted when she completely controls the outcome.
That’s it. Those 3.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 1:12 pm
The reason Bobby Schilling didn’t access Federal Healthcare when he was Congressman is because his wife and children got “free healthcare” at the county clinic. Politician Bobby Schilling would do anything to get back on the government payroll!
Comment by DateNight Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 1:17 pm
OW, hope she picks door #2.
Comment by Wally Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 1:27 pm
We don’t expect our politicians to be saints, and we expect them to dodge tough issues and leave themselves wiggle room to change their minds. But when a candidate says they are going to do X and then they don’t do X, they should pay a price. Remember “read my lips, no new taxes?” Bustos said she’d dock her own salary. Now she wants us to beleive it was all a mistake. That doesn’t pass the giggle test.
Comment by CG Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 1:46 pm
For the first year and a half she was in office there was not one peep from her. No town halls, no tele town halls, no constituent outreach. Nothing. In fact, many people have given her the name “No Show Cheri”. She only shows up when she knows the media is involved, but she lacks the ability to do constituents services, which is the most important job of being a representative. She is a master at maintaining a public image. (kudos to her on that part.) She knows how to show up and give an articulate message when the media is around. With that said, I am very surprised that she “misspoke” on this because she was “investigative” journalist and Communications Director for 20+ years. You’d think she’d be able to choose her words more wisely to this revelation other than “misspoke.”
Comment by OneWoman Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 1:48 pm
==- VanillaMan - Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 9:38 am:==
Look at the calendar again.
==- Demoralized - Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 9:55 am:
That’s an adynaton.
Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 2:02 pm
If she uses campaign funds to make good on a promote se to sacrifice personal income, she’ll be doubling down on stupidity. There’s only one good solution. Make good on private donation. Fast. She’s already lost on this. Stop the bleeding before he gets even one more day with it.
Comment by À guy Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 3:21 pm
Schilling also refused the congressional pension because he is serious about his term limit pledge. Two things Bustos isn’t even promising to match.
Comment by Sentinel Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 3:26 pm
Could be that when Cheri got home after the interview and mentioned this at dinner, her husband said, “What?!? Are you crazy? Forget it!” So to preserve the domestic tranquility, she did.
Comment by been there Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 4:55 pm
The 17th hasn’t had competent representation since before Lane Evans’ health collapsed. The Quad Cities are very lucky that there’s no political will for another BRAC round right now.
Comment by GraduatedCollegeStudent Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 9:26 pm
Wow. The Republican phone tree lit up on this parsing of Bustos’es comments.
After she stated her position clearly, she was asked if she would do return the money regardless of how the vote turned out. She said she wanted it to apply to every congressman. She was then interrupted with a question designed to trap her after she clearly stated that she was seeking a vote of the Congress to do this, her being the lone ranger on this makes no sense. Two interviewers teaming up on her to posit a “gotcha question” by confusing the issue is an old trick of the press.
I bet they were congratulating each other for their “who’s on first” questioning.
Comment by Tom Joad Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 10:56 pm
i voted for you,call it an oversight& give back (hit bobby with this citizenship for cash scam)
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 11:03 pm
- Tom Joad -
In case ya missed it…
===Interviewer: “You would do it regardless of how the vote turns out?”
Cheri Bustos: “Yes.”===
That ain’t parsing.
Just saying.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 22, 14 @ 7:34 am
Yeah. No parsing here.
Comment by Peoria guy Friday, Aug 22, 14 @ 11:00 am
You last two posters have done a good job of convincing yourselves that having two questions on the table at once doesn’t cause confusion. It was designed to cause confusion, and by the comments posted here, the interviewers succeeded.
Comment by Tom Joad Friday, Aug 22, 14 @ 7:45 pm