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Durbin Faces Illinois Backlash After Vote to Reopen Government

A compromise restoring paychecks in exchange for a later ACA subsidy vote divided Illinois leaders.

Overview

  • Sen. Dick Durbin was one of eight Democrats who joined Republicans to pass a Senate plan to end the partial shutdown and send funding legislation to the House.
  • Gov. J. B. Pritzker said he disagreed with Durbin’s vote, and Sen. Tammy Duckworth opposed the deal, arguing it would not protect American families.
  • Other reactions in Illinois ranged from sharp denunciations by Rep. Sean Casten and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton to praise from Republican Senate candidate Don Tracy.
  • A Chicago Tribune editorial defended Durbin as pragmatic and outlined concessions in the deal, including rehiring laid-off federal workers, a pause on further job cuts through Jan. 30, full-year SNAP/WIC/veterans funding, and a December Senate debate and vote on ACA subsidies.
  • Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned the shutdown worsened an air traffic controller shortage affecting O’Hare and national operations and said flight reductions would ease only when safety data support it.