©2011 Galesburg Broadcasting Co.
| Schilling Hosts Town Hall, Accuses Opponent of Not Meeting People, Talks Cap and Trade and More |
The Republican candidate for a seat in the U.S. House for portions of Knox County, the Quad Cities, and other parts of Central Illinois says he's actually getting out and meeting the people.
That's how Quad Cities restaurant owner Bobby Schilling opened a town hall-style in Galesburg at a Lake Storey shelter house Tuesday afternoon.
Schilling told a crowd of about 80 people his opponent -- Rock Island Democrat Phil Hare -- apparently doesn't much care about the people.
"This is our third town hall that we've done. The opponent isactually coming out and doing most of these things through [a] telephone town hall, which I'm unwilling to do," Schilling said. "One of the things that I believe is that, as an elected official, when I'm elected to Congress, no matter how I vote, I will always come out and face the people."
Hare walked in Galesburg's Labor Day parade Monday, was in Galesburg in Mid-August at the Knox County Council for Developmental Disabilities, visited Gates Rubber Company earlier in August, was in Henderson County in July to talk about flood relief, and was in Galesburg talking unemployment earlier in July. Schilling also was believed to be in the Galesburg Labor Day parade Monday, and the last time he was in town he hosted a fundraiser here in late-May.
A number of questions were asked during the 40 minute meeting. One of those was whether or not Schilling would sign a pledge opposing any tax increase. Schilling said he wasn't so sure.
"Will we ever need tax increases? I don't know," Schilling said. "The career politician -- the number one thing they want to do is, rather than go in and look at the hard things to do or cut, they want to raise taxes because it's the easy way out. I never take the easy way out. I will fight tooth and nail...no tax increases, unless it's the last resort."
Schilling says he would never vote for anything that would affect things like Social Security, and wouldn't support something he claims Hare does: a payroll tax on small businesses.
Hare will be back in Galesburg Wednesday to unveil a campaign commercial. No word on when Schilling will be back.
(Bobby Schilling, candidate for 17th District Representative, meets with supporters Tuesday at Lake Storey in Galesburg. WGIL News Story and Photo by Will Stevenson.) |
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| 09 08 10 by Newsroom |
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