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has protected region, country’s interests Because of a filibuster by Sen. Peter Fitzgerald, a bill on expansion of O’Hare Airport is stalled in the U.S. Senate. If Dick Durbin, Illinois senior senator, is afraid to stand up to Fitzgerald, he’s in the wrong business, says Durbin’s challenger, Jim Durkin. If Durkin sees the issue that simply, he’s seeking the wrong office. WE BACK DURBIN for re-election to his second term. The Senate is a tough act, but the Democrat from Springfield has accomplished plenty. He helped position Greater Rockford Airport to add passenger service when economic upturn comes. He followed his conscience, refusing to give the president permission to attack Iraq. He is the first Illinois senator in more than 25 years to serve on the powerful Appropriations Committee. Fitzgerald has succeeded in delaying the O’Hare legislation not because Durbin is ineffectual but because of the urgency of the Iraq matter and the particularity of Senate rules. The Senate is designed as a gentleman’s chamber, a place where all people have equal voice. To defeat Fitzgerald’s filibuster, the senators would have to spend three days on the issue, Durbin explains. That’s not a luxury the senators have, given the urgent war resolution. Besides, Durbin believes he has the votes for O’Hare in the session after the election. WE BELIEVE THE REGION can wait, even though the O’Hare project is crucial to the northern Illinois economy. And we are grateful that Durbin helped bring Midwest Express Airline to the table to talk with Rockford airport officials about adding passenger service this spring. Those efforts could pay off when the economy improves. Durkin, a four-term Republican state representative from Westchester, criticizes Durbin for being overly partisan. In the General Assembly, Durkin says he has shown independent judgment. DURBIN HAS, TOO, on a matter of the utmost gravity. In the middle of a re-election campaign, he had nothing to gain politically in saying no to the president on Iraq. In fact, many Democrats in Congress had agreed to give Bush the go-ahead for fear that a “no” vote would cost them in November. We agree with Durbin. Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is an evil man; he has weapons of mass destruction. But the president has yet to prove that Iraq presents an imminent danger. The United States should continue to build an international coalition before taking military action. “Going it alone,” Durbin said, “is an open invitation to people priming the next generation of terrorists.” For his foresight especially, Durbin deserves re-election. |
Publication: Rockford
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