Members of the West Central Building Trades Council say former Republican Congressman Bobby Schilling is out of touch when he says he’s living from paycheck-to-paycheck. Schilling is running against 17th District Democratic incumbent Cheri Bustos. Council president Bill Comstock says Schilling is earning $130,000 a year working for a lobbying firm:
“We don't feel like he truly understands what it means to live paycheck to paycheck. Layoffs and slow times in the construction industry have really hurt our people.”
A spokesman with the Schilling campaign says that Schilling is earning significantly less than $100,000 this year. He says Schilling is working part-time for CMB Regional Centers in Rock Island that helps find domestic projects for foreign investors.