Illinois Senator Dick Durbin (SFS ’66, LAW ’69) covered a wide variety of political issues du jour during his speech and Q&A with students on Monday. As the Senate Democratic Whip, a position he has held since 2005, he has a particularly strong sense of what legislation is likely to be coming up soon. Durbin spoke on Democratic stances regarding criminal reform, immigration, and health care; as well, he shared the perspectives of his colleagues across the aisle on these issues and how the Senate may work together this year to pass vital legislation.
Speakly highly of his alma mater, Durbin stated, “I would not be where I am sitting today were it not for a Georgetown education.” As for the recent government shutdown in January, he felt optimistic that legislators were growing increasingly weary of its use and that his Republican colleagues were frustrated with its use. “The only way to avoid another shutdown is if Republican senators will join Democratic senators and say ‘we’re just not going to go through this again.’”
Read more: The Hoya – Georgetown Voice – On The Record
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