Senate race toes party lines; Durbin, Durkin battle on drugs, economic issues
Amid a weakened economy and broad concern about the rising cost of prescription drugs, the state's two major candidates for U.S. Senate offer sharply different approaches to issues of economic security that closely track the national split between their political parties.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) champions his party's efforts to include prescription drug coverage in Medicare as a guaranteed benefit available on the same terms to all elderly and disabled Americans. But Republican challenger state Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Westchester) favors a less-costly approach relying on private insurance companies. Durkin's proposal, adopted from legislation passed by House Republicans, offers a federal subsidy for prescription coverage, with low-income beneficiaries eligible for more generous assistance with their premiums.

The Republican candidate believes the best way to revive the economy and improve Americans' job prospects is to make permanent the Bush administration's tax cuts, which currently are set to expire in 2010. Durkin said that making the tax cuts permanent would be "the most important economic stimulator" because the step would "allow workers and investors to plan for the future."

By contrast, Durbin advocates delaying further income tax cuts for those making more than $300,000 per year if, as is currently forecast, the federal budget remains in deficit. The Bush administration's tax cuts are being phased in gradually over a period of years.

"It strikes me as unfair and unwise to continue to borrow money from Social Security to continue to fund tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans," Durbin said.

The deep philosophical differences between the Democrat and Republican are clearly reflected across a range of domestic political issues, including opposing views on a possible raise in the minimum wage, Amtrak funding, environmentalist objections to oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve and proposals to ban certain late-term abortions.

But both candidates agree on one high-profile local issue: support for federal legislation that would encourage expansion of capacity at O'Hare International Airport.

Although opposition to the airport expansion is being led by another suburban Republican, Sen. Peter Fitzgerald (R-Ill.), Durkin said he would back Senate legislation introduced by the incumbent Democrat to lock in the terms of the airport expansion deal reached last December by Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and Gov. George Ryan.

But the candidates clash on the level of subsidies that federal taxpayers should give to Amtrak, which provides long-distance train service to many Illinois communities.

The Republican said the national passenger rail service should "wean itself from subsidies" and cut cross-country routes that are "financial losers." Five of Amtrak's six most unprofitable routes--each of which requires subsidies of more than $200 per passenger--originate in Chicago.

The Democratic senator supports the full $1.2 billion subsidy that Amtrak executives say they need to continue operating.

For low-wage workers, Durbin favors a $1.50 increase in the $5.15 federal minimum wage over the next three years. Durkin opposes any increase.

"I just don't think it's the role of government to go any further on minimum wage," the Republican said. "That's the reason we have collective bargaining."

Durbin criticizes the Bush administration energy plan, now stalled in Congress, as too tilted toward government incentives for more oil production and opposes the Bush plan to allow drilling for oil in the ecologically sensitive Arctic National Wildlife Reserve.

He says "one of the most irresponsible elements" of the Bush plan was the White House's refusal to significantly raise fuel efficiency requirements for newly manufactured cars and trucks. Automakers and unions argue that higher standards would raise the price and reduce the availability of popular products such as sport-utility vehicles.

The Republican candidate supports the White House energy policy, including drilling in the wildlife reserve, as "a rational approach ... that lessens our dependence on foreign oil." He opposes stricter fuel efficiency standards for automobiles as a misplaced attempt "to dictate American preferences."

Publication: Chicago Tribune
Date: October 7, 2002
Author: Mike Dorning

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