Recently in Dick Durbin Category

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Roland Burris is critical of the compromise health plan Senate leaders crafted to allow states to opt out of a government-sponsored "public option" insurance plan. With Burris' vote potentially crucial, I've learned that the Obama White House will be paying attention to him for the first time today, dispatching the health "czar" to his Senate office.

First Lady Michelle Obama talks with, from left, Chicago 2016 board member Marty Nesbitt, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Education Secretary Arne Duncan aboard Air Force One prior to departure from Copenhagen, Denmark, Oct. 2, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

WASHINGTON--This photo from the White House captures some of the central Chicago and Illinois figures in the Obama White House en route to Washington from Copenhagen where they pitched Chicago for the 2016 Olympics--only to be stunned to have Chicago come in last.

WASHINGTON--The debate over ACORN continues on cable shows, after the Monday Senate vote to ban federal money to fund programs run by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). The Senate vote was overwhelming--83 yes, 7 no and 9 not voting. Illinois Democrats Dick Durbin and Roland Burris both voted no.

Critics of Barack Obama during the presidential campaign tried to attack Obama by attacking ACORN, a community organizing group over how they handled voter registration and Census work. The Senate action came after ACORN got caught up in an undercover video sting--where ACORN employees were seen offering advice to folks posing as a prostitute and a pimp.

The actual legislation:
Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 2355 to H.R. 3288 (Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010)
Statement of Purpose: Prohibiting use of funds to fund the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN).

WASHINGTON--Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) told me Tuesday the folks protesting President Obama's health care overhaul at town halls hosted by Democrats are "tea baggers" and "birthers" -- using the newly spawned terms as political shorthand to describe Obama antagonists.

(photo by Lynn Sweet)

WASHINGTON--Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor met with Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Tuesday and told him despite her crack about being a wise "Latina," she assured him the law would be followed.

Sotomayor's visit with Durbin was just one of a string of 10 stops throughout the day with top senators. Durbin said the two chatted about their fathers dying when they were youths.

Durbin brought up Sotomayor's now controversial statement about superior Latina judgement.

Related Durbin, "I asked her about the "wise Latina" statement, which seems to have received more attention than almost anything she's said. And she said, "It's just one part of me." She said, "I'm many different things." And she said, "It -- basically it means that that's part of my life experience that I bring to my judgment." She said, "Maybe it means that with this background I'm a better listener; I listen for certain things." But she said, "Ultimately, it -- it's not going to decide any case for me. The law will make that decision; Constitution will be followed."

"But every one of us is a sum of all the parts of our life experience.

"And she mentioned that, of course, was important to her. She said race and gender don't take a back seat to good judgment when it comes to cases before her."

WASHINGTON--Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn heads here for a Wednesday meeting with Vice President Biden, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and other governors to map strategy for winning federal stimulus money for a Midwest high speed corridor.

Quinn will also be meeting with Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)

WASHINGTON--Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said Sunday he would have no problem housing alleged terrorists now at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba in an Illinois prison.

Durbin told NBC's "Meet the Press" host David Gregory, "Well, I'd be OK with them in a supermax facility, because we've never had an escape from one. And as I said, we have over 340 convicted terrorists now being held safely in our prisons. I just don't hear anyone suggesting releasing them or sending them to another country. That isn't part of the prospect that we have before us."

Earlier this week, Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) told me he has no problem housing Gitmo detainees in Illinois. There is a federal high security facility in downstate Marion, Illinois.

WASHINGTON--Sen. Dick Durbin told David Gregory on NBC's "Meet the Press" that President Obama's Supreme Court pick is likely coming this week.

"I think it is going to come this week," Durbin said.

Gregory asked, "You think as early as Tuesday?"

" Well, I, I've been told it's likely to come this week, but I don't know which day."

WASHINGTON -- Without a plan detailing where alleged terrorists would be sent, the Obama White House was told by congressional Democrats that lawmakers would not approve funds for closing the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

So what happened? Despite the warnings, with no ammunition to deflect fears about terrorists running around on U.S. soil, the Obama team lost Guantanamo funding votes in the House and Senate. With no plan, resistance to bringing the detainees to U.S. prisons -- and fear-mongering -- have been allowed to grow.

WASHINGTON--On an overwhelming 90-6 roll call, the Senate balked Wednesday on funding for a key pledge of President Obama--closing down the military prison holding alleged terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The Illinois senators split on the contentious issue, fueling debate over whether U.S. communities will accept the detainees at local prisons.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) was one of the six Senators backing Obama's cornerstone campaign pledge. Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) voted with the majority.

Arguing for the $80 million for the prisoner transfer--out of $91.3 billion Defense supplemental spending, Durbin said U.S. corrections personnel already handle dangerous prisoners "every single day."

"The reality is that we're holding some of the most dangerous terrorists in the world right now in our federal prisons," Durbin said from the Senate floor.

Burris told me after the vote he thought high security facilities--such as the federal maximum security prison in Marion, Ill. could safely hold the detainees.

WASHINGTON--The House approved Thursday a credit card "bill of rights" sponsored by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and steered through Congress by Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), Chairman of the Financial Services' Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit. Last week, President Obama called credit card company executives to the White House.

Obama said, "I will work with Congress in the weeks to come so that I can sign a credit card reform bill into law that upholds these principles and upholds the interests of the American people."

On other consumer credit issues, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), over at PoliticsDaily.com talked to me about the need for consumers to have a 36 percent cap on credit card interest and the need for a Financial Products Safety Commission.

WASHINGTON -- Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was back with his Illinois gang Wednesday. "Our favorite transportation secretary," said Sen. Dick Durbin.

LaHood, the former Republican congressman from Peoria, headlined a lunch with the Illinois congressional delegation hosted by Durbin.

About $938 million in stimulus spending for Illinois transportation projects was on the plate, along with an assortment of Cosi flat- breads, salad, chips, cola, coffee and cookies.

Afterward, a rare delegation news conference was served up. All the members at the lunch were invited. Here's the news:

WASHINGTON--Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)--a champion of food and toy safety--has an interesting idea in the wake of the economic meltdown that no regulators saw coming--create a "Financial Product Safety Commission."

Durbin is the lead on a bill to "establish an oversight board whose sole objective would be to help consumers use financial products such as mortgages, credit cards, and retirement accounts safely and efficiently. The current crisis has demonstrated that the nation's current financial regulation structure has diminished consumer protections and eroded consumer confidence. This new safety commission would hold those who offer consumers financial credit accountable and ensure that they act responsibly," Durbin's office said in a statement.

"As Congress embarks on fundamental financial regulatory reform, it is imperative that the improved regulatory system focus not just on the safety and soundness of the providers of financial products, but also on the safety of the consumers of financial products. The Financial Product Safety Commission would do just that."

WASHINGTON--The Senate just voted to require transparency in President Obama's giant stimulus package and wants more sunshine on the TARP bank bailout money. Maybe these legislative experiences will trigger some movement in the chamber to do the right thing and finally require electronic filing of Senate campaign finance reports.

Hard to believe--but it is true--the Senate to date just does not want the public to have easy access to these reports. Presidential candidates, House contenders and political action committees have to e-file. But the Senate has been resisting for years.

On Thursday, Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wi) joined by Thad Cochran (R-Ms) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for the FOURTH time introduced a bill to mandate electronic disclosure of Senate campaign finance reports. As noted in their release, the "legislation is identical to legislation that was introduced in the 108th, 109th, and 110th" sessions of Congress.

At present, the Federal Election Commission copies information on Senate receipts into their database. The FEC does not copy expenditures, making it difficult to do detailed analysis of campaigns.

The bill has been stalled in the past because non-related matters have been attached.

This is an easy one. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nv.) should call the bill clean. And within 30 days. Let's just get this done.

Left, Sgt. McCallum II, Sen. Durbin center, right, Sgt. Rafael Delgado
(photo by Lynn Sweet)

WASHINGTON--Continuing a tradition, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) invited two wounded Illinois vets to be his guests when the president addresses a joint session of Congress.

On Tuesday, Durbin hosted two soldiers who served in Iraq, Sgt. Rafael Delgado, who lives in Garfield Park in Chicago and Sgt. Ralph McCallum II of Springfield.

A blood drive will be held in the upcoming days at Brands Park,
3285 N. Elston Ave. in Chicago in honor of Delgado. Call the park at (773) 478-2414 for date and time.

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Updated 4:34 p.m. eastern time.

WASHINGTON--Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) held a 59-minute meeting Tuesday with embattled Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) and afterwards said Burris told him he will not resign.

Durbin said he told Burris he would not support his candidacy in 2010. Durbin said he asked Burris if he was going to run in 2010 and Burris said he has not decided. A source told the Sun-Times that Burris is not going to run. In any case, the uproar surrounding Burris would make it politically impossible to run since almost every major Democrat in the state has asked Burris to step down.

In recapping their discussion, Durbin said, "I told him it would be extremely difficult for him to be successful in a primary or a general election under the circumstances.

Burris was under some pressure, Durbin said; Burris' legal fees were "hundreds and thousand of dollars."

"I told him that under the circumstances I would consider resigning if I were in his shoes. He said he would not resign and that was his conclusion," Durbin said.

"At this point I suggested to him he had to do everything in his power to bring the facts out as completely as possible. He told me he was limited in some respects in speaking to the press, making public statements."

Burris is facing inquiries from the Senate Ethics Committee and the Sangamon County (Ill.) state's attorney.

"It's now up to Sen. Burris to deal with the facts and challenges before him," Durbin said.

Durbin underscored what Burris told him. "He told me clearly he will not resign"

"Now a lot of people, including a lot of editorial writers who think that I have a very persuasive way about me with Mr. Burris. And I will just tell you that is not the case. He contacted me before he was appointed by Gov. Blagojevich and I advised him, don't do it. He did it anyway. So my advice obviously doesn't move him."

In the most general terms, members are concerned about this.

"Again, it raises sadly the specter of political controversy in my home state. People in Illinois are bone weary of this stuff. They want this Blagojevich burlesque to end and they want to move on. We have a lot of things that have to be done with our new governor and our General Assembly.

"As far as my colleagues here in the Senate, they are grasping as I am to try to get to the truth of this situation. They are confused and concerned about the disclosures that have been made but you know, each of them will have to speak for themselves."

I asked Durbin and he and Burris will work, since Burris is sticking around.

"I am going to do what is best for the state. Working with Sen. Burris on some issues absolutely essential. There are some appointments that require the signature of both senators, for example. So we will find ways to cooperate and work together. I don't want the people of Illinois to lose anything because of this controversy.

WASHINGTON--Embattled Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) meets with Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Tuesday afternoon. Burris understands that he needs to try to mollify Durbin and he will attempt to do that.

Scoop: Burris will also be sending, directly or indirectly (maybe this is it) two messages: he will not resign in the wake of the controversy surrounding his appointment by the ousted Gov. Blagojevich and he will not run for the seat in 2010. Burris has finally realized that not seeking election next year is the least price he will pay.

Here is the state of play regarding Burris, from the Burris perspective.

*Senate Democratic leadership is going to realize Burris is not going away soon.

*The Senate Ethics panel moves slowly.

*The Sangamon Co. (Ill.) inquiry about Burris' will take some time.

*The Senate Democrats need Burris for his vote, especially with the Minnesota seat still up in the air.

*So they all have to make this work somehow.

WASHINGTON -- I bet Sen. Roland Burris only casually flagged Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Dick Durbin about the affidavit he sent to the Illinois House impeachment committee -- the one where he came clean about multiple contacts with ousted Gov. Blagojevich's brother Rob asking him for fund-raising help.

Burris, I'm told by several sources, strolled up to Durbin, the No. 2 Senate leader, and Reid on the Senate floor while they were in the midst of overseeing the vote on President Obama's stimulus bill, one of the most important pieces of legislation in the history of this nation. .

Burris vastly minimized the nature of the document he filed.