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Durbin criticizes lack of leadership on Illinois budget
By Dennis Conrad
Associated Press Writer
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WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said Thursday that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and state legislative leaders must end a budget impasse that threatens federal transportation money Congress has approved for the state.

“I would say we are looking for some leadership in Springfield,” the Senate’s No. 2 Democrat said in an interview with The Associated Press.

His comments came after a question-and-answer session with visiting constituents during which he cracked a joke comparing the logjam at the Illinois Capitol to religious strife in Iraq. Durbin said he had been asked to mediate the dispute between Blagojevich and state lawmakers, though he did not specify by whom.

“I told them that I was going to decline,” he said. “I’d rather deal with the Sunnis and Shias than an open civil war. It’s easier to figure out who your enemy is.”

Blagojevich, commenting on Durbin’s remark, said the senator was right not to get involved in Springfield’s impasse.

“He ought to be in Washington fighting for us there,” the governor said.

Other members of the state’s congressional delegation agreed that state officials should settle their differences.

“At the end of the day, the people of Illinois deserve more than they’re receiving,” said Rep. Tim Johnson, a Republican from Urbana. “In some ways, it’s almost become a national embarrassment.”

A new state budget is being held up by disputes between Blagojevich and lawmakers, particularly House Speaker and fellow Chicago Democrat Michael Madigan.

The Democratic governor wants a large increase in education spending and a new program to guarantee health insurance for every Illinoisan. He has proposed a $5 billion mix of business taxes and gambling expansion to pay for it, but Madigan and Republican leaders say those ideas don’t have enough support to pass.

The budget was supposed to be passed by May 31. State government is still operating only because officials passed a budget extension that expires at the end of July.

U.S. Rep. Phil Hare, a Democrat from Rock Island, urged Democratic state officials to work with Republicans.

“Locking anybody out, I’m never for that,” Hare said. “If the boat takes on water, everybody better be bailing.”

In a letter to state officials in May, the congressional delegation said it had obtained a 33 percent increase in federal funding for Illinois transportation projects. But to get that money, the state must put up some money of its own.

The letter warned state officials that if they don’t approve that state money, “as much as $6.1 billion in federal funding could be at risk.”

Associated Press Writer Deanna Bellandi in Chicago contributed to this report.

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Reader comments on this story - 13 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

All Rush Puppets Take Note wrote on Jul 14, 2007 6:19 AM:

" Durbin did not call U.S. soldiers Nazis. He read a quote of what an FBI agent had witnessed at Guantanamo Bay and said "if I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control you most certainly would believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime - Pol Pot or others." That certainly is not calling them Nazis. "

Old Vet wrote on Jul 13, 2007 1:49 PM:

" Alphponse are you kidding me? Durbin compared our troops to Nazis and then did the old Potamic Two Step and a good ole fashion Buch N Wing to explain his way out of it. I didn't think it really fooled anybody-until now! "

To: Alphonse wrote on Jul 13, 2007 12:33 PM:

" Are you kidding? Anyone who call our troops Nazis and then votes to cut thier funding. Is being disrespectful of our Military. The only Seantor that we have had that was worse was Paul Simon. "

To: to jimmy b. wrote on Jul 13, 2007 12:29 PM:

" Turbin Durbin disrespected our Military big time when he called them Nazi. The rest of your comment is not worth answering. "

Grumplestiltskin wrote on Jul 13, 2007 11:30 AM:

" Blagojevich and Durbin- Illinois' version of "Dumb and Dumber". No wonder our state is going down the toilet. "

Dan B. wrote on Jul 13, 2007 10:21 AM:

" Jimmy B., you hit the nail on the head. Does Durbin think joking about what's happening in Iraq will endear him to the families who have lost loved ones and those who have loved ones still in harms way? It's not only time to clean house in Springfield (or is that Springfiend?), but in D.C., too. "

CB wrote on Jul 13, 2007 9:59 AM:

" jimmy b. I couldn't agree with you more! "

Alphonse wrote on Jul 13, 2007 9:45 AM:

" Durbin never disrespected our military, just the leaders who use our military for nefarious ends. We're lucky to have someone represent us in the Senate who has consistently spoken out against the Bush administration and it's countless mistakes, manipulations of government, and misdirections. "

To:jimmy b wrote on Jul 13, 2007 9:37 AM:

" How has Dick Durbin disrespected our military? Your commander in chief has direspected them by sending them into harms way based on a pack of lies to only try and improve his popularity. "

Well said wrote on Jul 13, 2007 8:17 AM:

" Amen, Jimmy B! "

T wrote on Jul 13, 2007 6:20 AM:

" I think its time that we have a recal vote and get this idiot out of our goverment. Blago needs to go "

How can we~~ wrote on Jul 13, 2007 3:33 AM:

" have leadership when he is too busy flying around to notice. I said before he never would of gotten in if it had been a different opponent running against him. He'll never make it again!!!! When they start yelling take the guns, look out, people will not stand idly by and let that happen. From what I understand it will be the ammo that will be eliminated. No ammo, gun useless. I agree that gangs and killers should not have access to guns, but leave law abiding citizens ALONE!!!! If you've been in trouble with the law, NO GUN OR AMMO!!! Our Second amendment taken away and Freedom of speech is running a close second to that also. People had better stand up for what we believe in or it will be all gone when we finally wake up one morning. "

jimmy b. wrote on Jul 13, 2007 1:55 AM:

" "Who Cares????"....why would anyone care about what Dick Durbin has to say????....He does not represent IL, just a small portion of it and he has disrepected our military beyond any bounds....he, like the current governor, both need to be replaced. "
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