Dick Durbin

Richard Joseph Durbin (born November 21, 1944) is an American politician serving as the senior United States Senator from Illinois, a seat he was first elected to in 1996. He has been the Senate Democratic Whip since 2005, the second-highest position in the Democratic leadership in the U.S. Senate.

Quotes

 * The purpose of this closed session in the Senate chamber is to finally give the truth to at least the members of the Senate—to finally call to task the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.


 * For a year and a half, we've been waiting for phase two. You know there comes a point where we'll be in next year, it'll be too close to an election and this will once again just slip through our hands. I think we owe the American people some straight answers. We certainly owe the troops who are risking their lives every day straight answers.


 * It is within the power of the majority to close down the closed session. They can do it by majority vote to return to the legislative calendar. We're serving notice on them at this moment: Be prepared for this motion every day until you face the reality. The Senate Intelligence Committee has a responsibility.


 * The banks—hard to believe in a time when we're facing a banking crisis—that many of the banks created—are still the most powerful lobby on Capitol Hill. And they frankly own the place.
 * Interview by Bill Moyers, Bill Moyers Journal, PBS, May 8, 2009.


 * If you want to get to the heart of this, it's the way we finance our campaigns for the United States Senate and the House of Representatives.
 * Interview by Bill Moyers, Bill Moyers Journal, PBS, May 8, 2009.