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* Sen. Dick Durbin’s response to questions about the governor’s NRI program, which is now under federal investigation, is impossible to argue with..
“I don’t know where the chips are going to fall. I don’t know who’s responsible for wrongdoing here,” said Durbin, D-Ill., Friday in an interview with Early & Often. “I’m not for a whitewash or walking away from it. Let’s find out.” […]
Durbin lauded William Holland, the state’s auditor general, who in February released a blistering review of the program, describing it as “hastily implemented” and said it didn’t target some of the most crime-prone neighborhoods in Chicago. Holland found that Quinn’s administration didn’t “adequately monitor” how state grant dollars were spent or on whom; community organizations that hired people with those funds weren’t maintaining time sheets; and city aldermen dictated where funding was to be steered.
“I’ve known him for years. Years. We worked together on the Senate staff, back many years ago. And he’s been auditor general two decades or more,” Durbin said. “I have the highest respect for his integrity. When he looks at it and says, ‘This needs to be investigated,’ I agree with Bill Holland.”
* Meanwhile, this was a pretty darned good pivot when asked about Jim Oberweis’ charge that he had “bullied” companies like Walgreens to keep them from moving their headquarters overseas…
“I think that’s a senator’s responsibility. To work to keep businesses in this state and to keep them in this country,” Durbin said. “Now, here comes my opponent and he’s saying: “oh, you shouldn’t do this. There’s a reason why he’s saying that. Jim Oberweis is a walking inversion.”
Durbin cited Oberweis’ wife claiming permanent residence in Florida and the husband and wife filing separate taxes to take advantage of tax breaks in Florida.
“Jim Oberweis has refused to disclose his state income tax return. The obvious question is out of the million-dollar-plus salary … how much did he pay Illinois income tax on?” Durbin said. “I think it’s a question he ought to answer. I disclose all my income tax … schedules included.”
* And he called the support of Oberweis by two black ministers a “novelty”…
“I’ll tell you this: If Mr. Oberweis wants this battle fought among African-Americans in Chicago or in Cook County — be my guest,” Durbin said. “I think [with] my voting record, my support of the president and my support of programs that will make a positive difference in their lives, I’ll do quite well.”
* But the Oberweis campaign got in a solid zinger of its own after Durbin called on his opponent to raise wages at his ice cream stores…
“Dick Durbin’s policies have resulted in the worst economic recovery in U.S. history and devastation for the poor and middle class in Illinois,” said Oberweis spokesman Dan Curry. “He’s possibly the last person on Earth Jim Oberweis would go to for advice on how to run his successful businesses.”
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:07 am
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== by two black ministers a “novelty” ==
Thus reinforcing the comments by those ministers that they felt dismissed, overlooked and == taken for granted ==. Hmmmm…
Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:12 am
Durbin is very good at what he does. That’s why he’s the Assistant Majority Leader.
Comment by Rahm'sMiddleFinger Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:19 am
Durbin may be good at what he does but calling African-American pastors “novelties” was a huge mistake and will come back to bite him.
Comment by Corbee Swanson Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:29 am
A bit OT, but excellent round up, Rich.
The whole post, from siding with Holland against Quinn on NRI; to Durbin’s jab at Oberweis; to Oberweis’ jab back; typifies what makes this joint so informative and entertaining.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:31 am
Durbin continues to demonstrate why he has dominated Illinois senate races for decades. He is a master politician. If we need an 80 year old master politician representing Illinois in the US Senate, he is the guy.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:43 am
“If we need an 80 year old master politician representing Illinois in the US Senate, he is the guy.”
And if we need an 68-year old with five failed political campaigns in just 10 years representing Illinois in the US Senate, Jim Oberweis is uniquely qualified!
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:55 am
Durbin also can’t be bothered with our governor. Quinn gets no respect from anyone who is supposed to be working with him. Even Simon dumps all over him.
Anyone high in ranking among the Illinois Democrats like Pat Quinn enough to follow him on any major gubernatorial policies?
We know what Madigan thinks about Pat Quinn. We know what Harold Washington thought about Pat Quinn. We know what Sheila Simon thinks about Pat Quinn. Now we know what Dick Durbin thinks.
Who supports Pat Quinn among Illinois’ leaders?
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:57 am
Good punch, counterpunch. Kudos to both. Still keeping an eye on this one to see how much of the “wave” might affect Illinois.
Comment by A guy... Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:59 am
That is a very poor comeback by Curry.
Durbin’s policies helped SAVE the economy after deregulation and Ayn Rand economics brought us the largest banking crisis since the Great Depression. And who brought us that? Folks like Jim Oberweis, who never met a government office he didn’t want to run for.
Comment by low level Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 12:08 pm
Novelty, what next, call them puppets?
Comment by Wumpus Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 12:49 pm
–If we need an 80 year old master politician representing Illinois in the US Senate, he is the guy. –
Durbin is 69.
Oberweis is 68.
VMan is “this many.”
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 1:14 pm
‘Durbin is 69.”
That explains the smile.
Comment by A guy... Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 3:28 pm
A guy:
“Durbin is 69″ that explains the smile - lol
but that smile is because he’s running against Oberweis……
Comment by Retired IDNR Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 5:19 pm