In addition to chatting about health care reform yesterday, I also asked Rep. Phil Hare (D-IL) about the abrupt closure of the Seaford Clothing plant in his district earlier this month. 

A bit of background: The Rock Island factory was owned and operated by Hartmarx Inc., whose bankruptcy battle we followed closely this spring.  On the day of the final sale of the company to British private equity firm Emerisque, a dispute over certain fees resulted in the parties deciding to close the plant, instantly eliminating over 300 jobs.  Hare, who had worked diligently to save Hartmarx from liquidation (the favored outcome of the company's creditors), described himself and the workers as "blindsided" by the news. Hare has a strong personal connection to the factory, having worked there himself for 13 years.  Most recently, Hare has pushed back against claims by the former Hartmarx executives that their last-minute demands for more money should have been expected.    

Watch it: