Progress Illinois

Yesterday, we noted that the Democratic House leadership looks poised to consider two bills dealing with workers' rights in the first week of the upcoming session: the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has his own priorities as well. The American Prospect’s Tim Fernholz got his hands on a list of 10 bills the Senate hopes to unveil when Congress reconvenes, as sent by leadership to various staffers. While the memo doesn’t contain specific legislative language, there are some encouraging details.

Indeed, third on the list is the “Homeowner Protection and Wall Street Accountability Act of 2009, which -- along with a moratorium on foreclosures and new regulations for the financial industry -- includes Sen. Dick Durbin’s plan to aid struggling homeowners by allowing the terms of their mortgages to be revised in bankruptcy court.

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This morning, NBC 5's City Desk aired an interview with Roland Burris, who told reporter Mary Ann Ahern at the outset, "I am the senator."  Burris went on to explain how he came to accept the appointment, what his plans are for Tuesday on Capitol Hill, and whether he would be interested in running for reelection in 2010, assuming he's eventually seated.  Watch (the full eight-minute interview is currently nowhere to be found on NBC 5's website):

Ahern also asked Burris about his invitation to testify before the House impeachment hearing.  He said he would be happy to appear, but added: "I don't even know why they would bring me into the hearings.  I mean, I have nothing to do with the governor. I am no part of whatever the governor is involved in.  I don't what kind of witness I can be." 

This play-it-dumb posture is one of the more tone-deaf aspects of Burris' PR strategy.  Since being appointed, he has repeatedly implied that questions about the legiitimacy of the process are somehow irrelevant, unnecessary, or off-target.  But he should know better.  You can't accept the appointment and then say, "I am no part of whatever the governor is involved in."  That's not going to fly.

Also this morning, Sen. Dick Durbin appeared on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopolous. 

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Yesterday, Sen. Dick Durbin recorded a statement in response to Gov. Blagojevich's appointment of Roland Burris to Illinois vacant U.S. Senate seat.  He describes it as an "act of political defiance" and asserts that the selection "is going nowhere."  Listen:

Internal mp3

Transcript below:

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In a statement this afternoon, State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias lambasted Gov. Blagojevich's selection of Roland Burris to succeed Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate:

The question here is not whether Roland Burris would make a good Senator. The question is whether Blagojevich should have the right to make the appointment. Regardless of whether he wanted to appoint Mother Theresa or Abraham Lincoln, I believe Blagojevich lost that right when he allegedly attempted to sell the Senate seat to the highest bidder. He abused his power and should lose his appointment power. ... In the best interest of the people of Illinois, I encourage Secretary of State White to refuse to certify the appointment.

Rep. Jan Schakowsky had a similar response.  From WBEZ:

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Here’s a reminder that, while Illinois may be synonymous with corruption these days, the state is also home to some solid, progressive policymakers.

In it’s annual list of “The Best of Public Policy,” the Drum Major Institute -- a New York-based think-tank -- nominated two proposals offered by members of Congress from Illinois. The first was Sen. Dick Durbin’s measure that sought to aid struggling homeowners by allowing the terms of their mortgages to be revised in bankruptcy court. The other was the Second Chance Act, legislation authored by Rep. Danny Davis that provides access to educational and job training programs for ex-offenders.

Both pieces of legislation deserve the honor, however it’s unfortunate that neither has been fully implemented.

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Immediately following the Blagojevich arrest on Tuesday, Sen. Dick Durbin began pushing the idea of a special election to fill Illinois' vacant U.S. Senate seat.  At the time, there was great appetite for the proposal and numerous Democrats -- including President-elect Barack Obama -- echoed his call.  What followed was a bit of pushback from his fellow Democratic leaders in D.C. (who are nervous about losing the seat), as well as some logistical concerns from election authorities here at home.  Now the senior senator seems to be softening his stance a bit.  From Roll Call (subscription required):

“The best outcome is if our governor resigns and the lieutenant governor takes over, and we can at least consider the option of an appointment,” Durbin, Illinois’ senior Senator, said during a brief interview. [...]

“My preference is [a special election]. But I’m dealing with the reality of schedules, as one General Assembly leaves and another starts, of elections that are currently scheduled in 2009 and whether we can catch up with them to piggyback on, or the cost of them, if we can’t if we have to do an independent special election,” Durbin said. “All of these are elements that I’ve talked to the legislative leaders on, and they are wrestling with that.”

I'd prefer a special election as well.  Openness and voter involvement are what we need at this juncture, considering how Blagojevich's corrupt selection process shut so many out.  But with all these plates spinning at once, I understand the concern that it just might not be feasible. 

Of course, it also bears mentioning that Illinois Republicans are going to raise hell if the seat is ultimately filled by appointment. 

At a Springfield news conference on Tuesday, Dick Durbin said he believes that George Ryan “has paid a price for his wrongdoing.” With that in mind, the Illinois senator is mulling whether to support clemency for the imprisoned former governor, who has served 13 months of his 6-and-a-half-year sentence. Ryan’s lawyers officially submitted their clemency request yesterday.

The consensus on the op-ed pages this morning? An unrepentant Ryan doesn’t deserve any breaks.

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Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Sen. Dick Durbin's proposal to help struggling homeowners by allowing bankruptcy courts to renegotiate the terms of certain mortgages.  As we noted on Tuesday, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart flew to Washington to testify before the committee about the foreclosure crisis in Chicagoland.  Dart told NBC 5 that the situation represents "utter chaos."  Durbin said he doesn't expect his plan to move forward during the lame duck session thanks to a White House that "is not open to the changes that we think will be necessary."  Watch:

(H/T HuffPo Chicago)

Back in April, during the height of the mortgage rescue package negotiations in Congress, we were frustrated to see Senate Republicans and the White House beat down Sen. Dick Durbin's proposal to aid struggling homeowners by allowing the terms of their mortgages to be revised in bankruptcy court. Apparently, so was the Illinois senator. Now, following encouraging testimony late last week from FDIC Chairwoman Sheila Bair in which she unveiled an aggressive plan to help those homeowners facing foreclosure, Durbin is throwing his proposal back on the table:

A U.S. senator on Monday introduced legislation to let judges alter the terms of distressed mortgages in bankruptcy cases, reviving a controversial proposal meant to help troubled homeowners, said an aide to the lawmaker.

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Capitol Fax is reporting some sad news: Sen. Dick Durbin's eldest daughter, Christine, died today at the age of 40.  The cause of death was "complications relating to a congenital heart condition."  The release from the senator's office states that she "fought a heroic lifelong battle with heart disease and our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Durbin family."

Ours are as well.