EAST MOLINE, Ill.—U.S. Rep. Bobby Schilling (R-Colona) promised his constituents that he would put solutions over ideology and people over party, and he's accomplished that in his first term. No Labels, a respected nonpartisan organization dedicated to the politics of problem-solving, is praising Rep. Schilling for his bipartisan work with U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa) on the Rock Island Arsenal and the I-74 bridge.
No Labels said the following in their daily briefing:
"THE WAY CONGRESS SHOULD WORK: Across-the-aisle cooperation is not dead. Reps. Dave Loebsack and Bobby Schilling don't agree on everything -- or even most things. But there are some things they do agree on, like fixing things within their state."
No Labels also cited an article discussing the cooperation between Loebsack and Schilling despite the hyper-partisan atmosphere in Washington.
Rep. Schilling said today that he is proud of his record of bipartisan problem-solving.
"I don't worry about R's and D's, I'm focused on getting things done," Schilling said. "Rep. Loebsack and I don't agree on much, but when it comes to accomplishing things for our area, we're willing to set aside our differences and work for the people. That's just common sense. That's what being a representative is all about."
Jon Schweppe, communications director for the Bobby Schilling for Congress campaign, said it's disappointing to see former East Moline Alderwoman Cheri Bustos criticizing the Schilling-Loebsack partnership.
"For all her talk about the horrors of partisanship and brinkmanship, it's surprising to see Cheri Bustos criticizing a healthy bipartisan relationship between two area representatives," Schweppe said. "Bobby Schilling has demonstrated a willingness to do whatever it takes to get things done for this area. Meanwhile, Cheri Bustos has shown a complete inability to compromise. As an Alderwoman in East Moline, Bustos voted for every tax increase and nearly every spending project, stubbornly running up a million dollar deficit while unemployment skyrocketed. The contrast between Schilling and Bustos could not be more clear."
