09 Jul 2019

Bobby Schilling Announces Run for Congress in Iowa's 2nd District

By Jon Schweppe

LECLAIRE, IOWA (July 9, 2019), Rormer Representative Bobby Schilling officially announced that he is running for Congress in the Iowa 2nd District as a Republican.

Schilling released the following statement:

03 Nov 2014

Schilling Releases Final Ad: "Why I'm Running"

By Jon Schweppe
The ad is a positive close describing who Bobby Schilling is and why he hopes to represent the Illinois 17th District in the next Congress.
The full ad can be viewed here.

SCRIPT:

Bobby Schilling: "Millionaires and billionaires? Shipping jobs overseas? That's ridiculous. I grew up in a working poor neighborhood in Rock Island. People are struggling, wages are stagnant, and prices keep going up. It's time for action and accountability with a representative who keeps his promises and has success to show for the people I serve. Working to help the middle class and working poor is my passion and why I'm running for Congress. Let's preserve the American dream for the next generation."
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28 Oct 2014

KWQC TV-6 Reports on Potential Electronic Voting Fraud

By Jon Schweppe

Rock Island County Clerk Karen Kinney remains defiant, lashes out in Facebook posts on KWQC news story

ROCK ISLAND, IL -- KWQC TV-6 reported yesterday about several complaints of electronic voting fraud with the early voting machines in Rock Island County. You can read and watch that story here.

Rock Island County Clerk Karen Kinney (D-Rock Island) offered no comment to the media about the allegations, but did take to Facebook last night to silence any criticism, calling the formal complaints "lies, & more lies" and accusing those who filed complaints of "making false allegations to suppress the vote." Kinney's posts were written under a thread about this issue on KWQC's Facebook page.

The Schilling campaign reached out to the Illinois State Board of Elections on Friday to report the situation. The State Board of Elections made contact with the Rock Island County Clerk's office and recommended re-calibrating the early voting machines. As of yet, there is no evidence that a full re-calibration has occurred.

The Schilling campaign has now received more than 20 reports from voters who have had their vote switched on the electronic voting machines. Several formal complaints have been filed to the Rock Island County Clerk's office.
Yesterday, the Schilling campaign also heard from a voter who went to early vote at the County Clerk's office and was turned away after requesting a paper ballot.

Jon Schweppe, communications director at Bobby Schilling for Congress, released the following statement:

"Every vote matters. Every vote should be counted. Karen Kinney needs to stop victim-blaming on Facebook and start working to fix the faulty machines. Voters in Rock Island County are quickly losing faith in the legitimacy of our elections, and that's unacceptable. The Rock Island County Clerk needs to do something immediately."
22 Oct 2014

Schilling: Stop Commercial Flights Into and Out of Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea

By Jon Schweppe
Schilling speaks out on Ebola outbreakSchilling: "We must protect our population, first and foremost."

Schilling suggests using small, private aircraft to transport CDC technicians, medical experts, and medical supplies

EAST MOLINE, IL -- Former Congressman and Congressional candidate Bobby Schilling (R-Colona) is calling for an immediate halt of commercial air traffic in and out of Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, the three countries where the Ebola virus is out of control, and any new countries that experience an uncontrolled outbreak.

"I have been constantly amazed by the ineptitude of President Obama and international agencies who keep saying it would be counter-productive to halt flights in and out of Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia because there would be no way to get world health experts and medical supplies into and out of those countries," Schilling said.

"We must protect our population, first and foremost. The answer is to immediately halt commercial air traffic with hundreds of civilian passengers who could then spread the virus all over our country and the world," Schilling continued. "Instead, we should be using U.S. government small planes for Center for Disease Control (CDC) personnel and technicians who can wear masks and hazmat suits on the way out. A small plane with a few experts and medical supplies is infinitely better able to have both the passengers and the plane itself controlled and quarantined upon arrival."

"It absolutely defies common sense why this hasn't been done already," Schilling said.

Schilling noted that neighboring countries Nigeria and Senegal have stamped out their Ebola outbreaks in small part by sealing their borders with Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. In this case, the world is like a hospital?those who have deadly contagious diseases are put in isolation until they are out of danger of spreading the disease.  The same needs to be done with countries.  It seems to have been part of the solution for Nigeria and Senegal.  

Nigeria had 20 Ebola cases and eight deaths with 900 people potentially exposed. They got to business with a massive sense of urgency from the beginning with outstanding epidemiological detective work, and they closed their borders with countries where the outbreak was uncontrolled. 

Schilling also said he has heard from numerous doctors and nurses here at home who are alarmed at the very slow progress in developing protocols on what to do if confronted by the need to treat a potential Ebola victim. 

"Our Administration and healthcare leaders need to work around the clock until this vital planning is done because the Ebola virus is already here," concluded Schilling. 

Bobby Schilling (R-Colona) was born and raised in Rock Island, Illinois. He has been married to his wife, Christie for 28 years and together they have 10 children. Schilling represented the Illinois 17th District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011-2012, serving on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Agriculture Committee, and the House Small Business Committee. Schilling is seeking another term and is running against incumbent Congresswoman Cheri Bustos.

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20 Oct 2014

Schilling Campaign Releases New Web Ad: "A Calling"

By Jon Schweppe

New ad features Peoria Councilman Eric Turner


PEORIA, IL -- The Bobby Schilling for Congress campaign has released a new web ad featuring Peoria Councilman Eric Turner (R-Peoria). Turner discusses the key issues of the campaign and makes a compelling case for Bobby Schilling (R-Colona). 

A 30 second version of the ad can be found here.

The full web ad can be found here.

30 second web ad script:

Peoria Councilman Eric Turner: "When you make a promise, you keep it. Bobby Schilling is genuine and authentic. He's the real deal. Bobby turned down the lavish congressional pension. He rejected the Cadillac congressional health care plan. He cut his office budget by more than 10 percent, and he returned an additional surplus of $110,000 back to the taxpayers. Bobby Schilling was and is a servant to the people."

Schilling: "I'm Bobby Schilling and I approve this message."

Full web ad script:

Peoria Councilman Eric Turner: "When you make a promise, you keep it. Bobby Schilling is genuine and authentic. He's the real deal. He made promises in his successful 2010 campaign, and he kept every single one of them. A lot of politicians say they're unlike other politicians. Bobby didn't just say it. He followed through. Bobby turned down the lavish congressional pension. He rejected the Cadillac congressional health care plan. He cut his office budget by more than 10 percent, and he returned an additional surplus of $110,000 back to the taxpayers. He slept on his office couch. Bobby Schilling was and is a servant to the people."

Turner: "Unfortunately, we're quickly learning that Cheri Bustos is another typical politician. She's willing to say or do anything to get elected, and she won't stop breaking her promises. Cheri promised she would protect veterans, then she ignored them during the VA crisis until Bobby Schilling stepped up and led first." 

Turner: "Cheri promised she would give back her pay during the government shutdown. She failed to follow through. She promised the Chicago Tribune that she would give up ten percent of her pay if elected. Now, she's dodging reporters and claiming she 'misspoke.' She promised to end gridlock in Washington, then on the first six budget proposals, she voted no, no, no, no, no, no. She promised to fight for jobs at the Rock Island Arsenal, then she skipped the vote to fund those jobs so she could campaign and take selfies with the President."

Turner: "If Cheri Bustos had a record of success half as good as the two years Bobby Schilling served, she would be airing ads touting those successes. The reason she is not is because she has nothing to show for her time as our representative. Nothing. Bobby Schilling fulfilled every single one of his promises. Cheri Bustos broke all of hers. Cheri Bustos fooled us, but she won't fool us again."

Turner: "Let's return Bobby Schilling, a true servant to the people, a guy who will fight for the middle class and working poor, and a guy who gets it. Let's send him back to Washington. Let's make sure we have a representative who's in it for the right reasons and in it to fight for you and me. My friends, Bobby Schilling is the better choice."

Schilling: "I'm Bobby Schilling, and I approve this message."

Bobby Schilling (R-Colona) was born and raised in Rock Island, Illinois. He has been married to his wife, Christie for 28 years and together they have 10 children. Schilling represented the Illinois 17th District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011-2012, serving on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Agriculture Committee, and the House Small Business Committee. Schilling is seeking another term and is running against incumbent Congresswoman Cheri Bustos.
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17 Oct 2014

Former Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood Campaigns for Schilling

By Jon Schweppe

KEWANEE, IL -- Former Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood lended his support and endorsement to Bobby Schilling on the campaign trail today. LaHood, who served during the entire first term of the Obama Administration, told a crowd of 85 supporters at the Elks Lodge in Kewanee, Ill. that Bobby Schilling is the "right guy for the job" in the Illinois 17th District.

"I'm very proud to support somebody who wants to get our country moving again, particularly in western Illinois," LaHood said.

LaHood pointed to Schilling's bipartisan record of success in Congress and said we need more bipartisanship in Washington.

"Bobby has a great track record of bipartisanship," LaHood said. "When I was Secretary of Transportation, I participated with Bobby and Congressman Loebsack in really identifying the importance of replacing the bridge across the Mississippi River. Bobby worked very hard on that and moved it to a position where now, when there's a transportation bill, this bridge is going to be replaced."

In 2012, Schilling and Loebsack, a Democrat Congressman from Iowa, invited Secretary LaHood to the Quad Cities to inspect the I-74 bridge. At the time, LaHood called the I-74 bridge "one of the worst bridges I've ever seen."

LaHood also highlighted Schilling's work for the Rock Island Arsenal.

"On the House Armed Services committee, Bobby really helped strengthen one of the biggest economic engines in the Quad Cities. He got those key provisions passed into law. That wouldn't have happened if Bobby hadn't worked as a member of the House Armed Services Committee."

Schilling said he appreciated LaHood's support, calling him a "true statesman."

"Ray LaHood is a guy who gets it," Schilling said. "He understands that it's about serving people, not party, and he's proven that. I'm honored to have his support, and I'm really appreciative he came tonight to our event in Kewanee."

Bobby Schilling (R-Colona) was born and raised in Rock Island, Illinois. He has been married to his wife, Christie for 28 years and together they have 10 children. Schilling represented the Illinois 17th District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011-2012, serving on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Agriculture Committee, and the House Small Business Committee. Schilling is seeking another term and is running against incumbent Congresswoman Cheri Bustos.

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16 Oct 2014

Chicago Tribune Endorses Schilling over Bustos

By Jon Schweppe
EAST MOLINE, IL -- The Chicago Tribune has emphatically endorsed Bobby Schilling (R-Colona) in his bid against incumbent Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-East Moline).

The full endorsement can be found here.

Chicago Tribune endorses Bobby Schilling in the 17th Congressional District
Chicago Tribune Editorial Board
October 14, 2014

Two years ago, we supported Republican Bobby Schilling of Colona in his bid for a second term in the 17th Congressional District, freshly redrawn to favor a Democratic candidate. Then as now, Schilling had the courage to tell voters what it would take to get the nation's debt and spending under control.

Democrat Cheri Bustos of East Moline told voters what they wanted to hear, which was that she would protect the safety net. She didn't say how. She won.

Bustos has proved to be a hands-on representative in her district and a respectably moderate voice in Washington. She joined the Blue Dogs, a coalition of fiscally conservative Democrats, and has sided with her party on a relatively low 85 percent of votes.

But the questions she ducked remain unanswered. And the budget's still a mess.

In this year's rematch, Schilling's camp has put Bustos on the defensive by pointing out that she failed to keep a promise made in a meeting with the Tribune Editorial Board to give up 10 percent of her congressional salary if elected. Her explanation is that she made the pledge in Chicago, so it isn't binding in the 17th District. Say what?

What we most remember from that meeting is her frustrating refusal to own a position on how to rescue Medicare and Social Security from insolvency. It was all about "compromise and focused problem-solving," not about adjusting benefits.

This year, she has avoided making rash, nonbinding promises by refusing to do interviews outside her district, even by phone. She did complete our survey, and we found her answers much like before. Instead of committing to unpopular fiscal reforms, she championed nibble-around-the-edge measures or listed steps she would not take.

During his short tenure in Congress, Schilling twice took a politically risky vote to restructure entitlement programs in order to save them. He says he'd do it again. Schilling is endorsed.

Residents of the 17th District, which crawls along the western border of the state, are fortunate to have two distinct candidates waging a vigorous campaign. In other districts, voters have little choice.
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01 Oct 2014

Schilling Proposes Fresh Health Care Solutions

By Jon Schweppe

One year after the inception of the infamous Obamacare website, middle class families are still struggling with skyrocketing health care costs.

Schilling: "Obamacare has failed. Now we need to try something else."

EAST MOLINE, Ill. -- Today Bobby Schilling (R-Colona) said that the debate on health care reform isn't over and shouldn't be over until the issue of skyrocketing health care costs is resolved.

"Obamacare has failed," Schilling said. "Health care costs keep going up. Millions of people have lost their health insurance. Middle class families continue to feel the squeeze. Look, this obviously isn't working. We need to try something else.

"On the campaign trial, I've proposed five key solutions that will help lower health care costs and increase access to care in this country," Schilling continued. "This summer, one of those solutions passed into law. I want to go back to Congress to get the other four solutions passed and once again advocate for middle class families by working to fix our broken health care system."

Bobby Schilling's Five Health Care Solutions to Lower Costs and Increase Access to Care:

1.) Allow veterans the ability to use their own doctors in their own hometowns.

  • Bobby introduced the Enhanced Veterans Health Care Experience Act in 2011, which would give veterans the right to be treated at non-VA facilities when VA wait lists proved too long and the distance to the VA facility proved too far.
  • This summer, Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Florida) borrowed language from Bobby's bill and included it in the Veterans Access to Care Act, which passed the House unanimously 426-0 in June and was eventually signed into law by President Obama.
2.) Pass tort reform.
  • Liability insurance is out of control for doctors, and it's driving health care prices up and doctors and specialists out of their fields. We need to put a reasonable cap on non-economic damages so we can help doctors continue to save lives and practice medicine.
3.) Expand Health Savings Accounts.
  • Health Savings Accounts do a great job at giving consumers more options and preparing them for emergency health care costs. We need to expand the contribution limits and provide more incentives for people to use HSAs.
4.) Create more competition by allowing the sale of insurance across state lines.
  • Health insurance premiums are through the roof. Competition brings down prices. Consumers should have the ability to shop for insurance anywhere in the country and not just be limited to one or two choices. If we give consumers more choices, premiums will go down, and consumers will win.
5.) Encourage private doctors and dentists to help those in need by allowing them to deduct charitable care from their taxes.
  • Currently, doctors and dentists at private practices are not allowed to write charitable care off their taxes. This is a logical solution that will help those in need and help our physicians save lives.
Bobby Schilling (R-Colona) was born and raised in Rock Island, Illinois. He has been married to his wife, Christie for 28 years and together they have 10 children. Schilling represented the Illinois 17th District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011-2012, serving on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Agriculture Committee, and the House Small Business Committee. Schilling is seeking another term and is running against incumbent Congresswoman Cheri Bustos.

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15 Sep 2014

Did Rep. Bustos Forget She Cut Veterans Benefits By $6 Billion?

By Jon Schweppe
New Bustos ad claims she cares about veterans, but why did she vote to cut their benefits?

And where was Congresswoman Bustos during the VA crisis?

EAST MOLINE, Ill.?In an effort to inoculate herself from her heartless vote to cut veterans benefits by $6 billion, Cheri Bustos is up on air with a new commercial, paid for by liberal special interest groups and wealthy D.C. lobbyists.

Jon Schweppe, communications director at Bobby Schilling for Congress, released the following statement:

"Cheri Bustos voted to cut veterans benefits by $6 billion by voting for the Ryan-Murray budget in 2013. Six. Billion. Dollars. She can run commercials wrapping herself in the American flag all she wants, but veterans haven't forgotten her heartless vote that cut veterans benefits by $6 billion.

"On top of that, Congresswoman Bustos failed to lead when veterans needed her most during the VA scandal. While veterans were dying on wait-lists at a VA hospital in Arizona, Cheri Bustos said and did nothing.

"Bobby Schilling led first on this issue. Schilling introduced the Enhanced Veterans Health Care Experience Act back in 2011, a bill that would solve the VA wait-listing issue by allowing veterans to use their own doctors in their own hometowns. Schilling's bill was included as a provision in this summer's VA reform legislation that passed the House unanimously 426-0 and has now been signed into law.

"Cheri Bustos might say she cares about veterans on TV, but her actions have proven otherwise. It says something about a politician's priorities when they say cutting $6 billion to veterans benefits is 'right for America.' If Cheri Bustos truly cared about veterans, then she should have kept her promise to give back ten percent of her salary and given the $34,800 to a veterans charity?instead, she refused to keep her word and refused to help veterans."

Bobby Schilling (R-Colona) was born and raised in Rock Island, Illinois. He has been married to his wife, Christie for 28 years and together they have 10 children. Schilling represented the Illinois 17th District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011-2012, serving on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Agriculture Committee, and the House Small Business Committee. Schilling is seeking another term and is running against incumbent Congresswoman Cheri Bustos.

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