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Dick Durbin
Quick Hit
by Adam Doster
5:22pm
Thu Feb 25, 2010

Durbin's Summit Performance

Who delivered the best highlight at today's health care summit? Archpundit says that, without a doubt, it was Illinois' own Sen. Dick Durbin. Check out this clip in which Durbin puts his colleagues on the spot. "Why do we continue to discriminate against people," he says, "when we know that we are one accident or one illness away from being one of those people who can't afford, or can't find health insurance?"

Durbin emerged from the bipartisan meeting optimistic that Congress will act sooner rather than later to usher in reforms -- with or without Republican support. "If nothing comes of this, we're going to press forward," he told TPM reporter Christina Bellantoni. "We just can't quit." Check out their full exchange.

PI Original
by Angela Caputo
9:14am
Tue Feb 23, 2010
23 comments

Immigrant Rights Activists: "It's Showdown Time"

Immigration Reform

Activists from across the Prairie State are keeping the pressure on Congress and the White House to fix the nation's broken immigration laws this year. Next month, they plan to send 10,000 Illinoisans to D.C. for a national march in favor of comprehensive reform.

PI Original
by Josh Kalven
4:02pm
Mon Feb 22, 2010
3 comments

Poll: 68% Of Illinoisans Support Public Option

Health Care

A new Research 2000 poll suggests that more than two-thirds of Illinois voters want to see a broad public insurance option included in the health care reform package.

Quick Hit
by Adam Doster
11:31am
Fri Feb 19, 2010
4 comments

Durbin's Letter Policy

Late yesterday afternoon, Sen. Dick Durbin's office told the Huffington Post's Ryan Grim that the he would not be signing on to letter calling on Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to hold a reconciliation vote on the public option. Their justification? As a member of leadership, Durbin won't sign any letters sent to the caucus leadership. "That would be like sending a letter to himself," said spokesperson Joe Shoemaker.

The senator's office pointed to Durbin's consistent record of support for the plan, signaling he would likely vote in favor of the public option if it ultimately faces a floor vote. And he might get a chance.  The White House is now writing their own bill in preparation for the bipartisan health care summit next week and they say it will be moved via reconciliation if no Republicans sign on.

(UPDATE at 3:50 pm: Sen. Reid released a statement on the public option push this afternoon, noting that if a bill is moved through reconciliation, he will "work with the White House, House, and members of his caucus in an effort to craft a public option that can overcome procedural obstacles and secure enough votes." Results from survey commissioned by progressive activists suggest using reconciliation to pass a public plan is popular in states from which the leadership hails.)

Quick Hit
by Adam Doster
4:53pm
Thu Feb 18, 2010

Schumer Adds Name To Public Option Push

Illinois Sen. Roland Burris and seven other Senate Democrats have signed a letter today calling on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to hold a reconciliation vote on the public option. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) became the first member of the Democratic Senate leadership to signal his support for the approach, emailing to supporters that it's "an opportunity to break through the obstructionism Republicans have pushed for the past year." We put in a second call to Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin's office today to find out where he stands on the effort, but have yet to hear back.

Quick Hit
by Josh Kalven
6:07pm
Wed Feb 17, 2010

Will Durbin Sign On?

A movement is underway in the U.S. Senate to see the chamber hold a vote on the public option via reconciliation rules.  In the past two days, ten senators -- including Illinois' own Roland Burris -- have endorsed a letter penned by Sen. Michael Bennet urging Majority Leader Harry Reid to take this path.  Greg Sargent wrote today that the growing list of supporters might suggest that the public option -- thought to be a goner -- "may have a faint pulse." 

We called Dick Durbin's office this morning to learn his stance on Bennet's idea.  A spokesperson told us that the senior senator is yet to read the letter, but reiterated that he supports the public option.  We'll be following up tomorrow, so stay tuned.

Quick Hit
by Adam Doster
1:30pm
Tue Feb 16, 2010

Geoghenan On The Filibuster

While there are still a lot of obstacles blocking Senate procedural reforms, momentum is slowly building. Illinois' own Sen. Dick Durbin, for example, explicitly endorsed a filibuster reform proposal unveiled by Sens. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) last week. On Amy Goodman's Democracy Now this morning, Chicago-based labor lawyer and author Tom Geoghegan explained the rationale behind the legislation and elaborated on his argument that the filibuster as currently employed violates the U.S. Constitution. Check out his appearance here.