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* Willie Wilson press release…
Minority Whip Durbin has monetized his office and enriched himself through various family members, former staffers and corporate donors. Abraham Lincoln said you can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. Durbin has duped the people of Illinois into believing he is a boy scout in Washington, D.C. Durbin’s actions on behalf of his wife’s lobbying clients, and former staffers show a pattern of corruption and pay to play politics on steroids. Therefore, I am calling on the Senate Ethics Committee, the Inspector General, and the media to examine Durbin’s lobbying ties and actions on behalf of his wife’s clients and former staffers clients.
Durbin’s lobbying company benefited greatly from his position in the United States Senate. Durbin should be ashamed of himself for failing to put his constituents before his personal interests. In 2007, Durbin voted against legislation to prohibit spousal lobbying. The following are some of the alarming facts that show a pattern of conflicts of interest by Durbin:
· Durbin’s wife began lobbying in 1998 and retired in 2014, Durbin acknowledged occasional overlap in which his wife’s clients received federal help (Chicago Tribune)
· Two public clients the city of Naperville, and Eastern Illinois University paid Durbin’s wife more than $1 million for lobbying (Chicago Tribune)
· The Naperville contract stated that Durbin’s wife would represent the city’s interests and act as a liaison with state and federal government officials (Chicago Tribune)
· The city of Naperville received millions of dollars in grants from the Federal government while she lobbied for them (Chicago Tribune)
· Durbin awarded millions of dollars to Eastern Illinois University while his wife lobbied for them (Chicago Tribune)
· Durbin earmarked $150,000 to the American Lung Association while his wife was their lobbyist (Chicago Tribune)
· Durbin Voted against legislation in 2007 that would have banned spousal lobbying (Washington Examiner)
· Durbin’s former staffer Amy Ford Souders is married to Patrick Souders, Durbin’s Chief of Staff and has her own lobbying company. She has been lobbying for 18 years (Open Secrets)
· Amy Ford Souders client EPIR, a Defense contractor received a total of $9 million in Earmarked funds from Durbin (Huff Post)
· Durbin has three family members who were/are registered lobbyists: Paul Durbin (son), Marty Durbin (Nephew), and his wife Loretta Durbin (Family Affair 2014 Report)
· In 2008, Durbin’s campaign committee reimbursed Durbin $28,438 for travel expenses (Family Affair 2014 Report)
· In 2010, Durbin’s campaign committee reimbursed Durbin $10,501 for travel expenses (Family Affair 2014 Report)
· Durbin’s net worth is more than $2 million, how does that happen when he has been in office for 37 years straight
Senator Durbin is part of the elite Washington club that has figured out how to make money off their position in government. He has blatantly pursued policies that benefitted his wife, family members and friends. Durbin’s wife and he are one. They file a joint tax return together. They share the same bank account. The millions of dollars Ms. Durbin made from lobbying are shared by Sen. Durbin. This is the kind of swamp that people abhor. Sen. Durbin broke the law and should be held accountable.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 11:46 am
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Previous Post: “My suburban Cook mom group on Facebook is going nuts with rumors”
Next Post: Pritzker: “If these allegations of wrongdoing by the speaker are true, there is no question that he will have betrayed the public trust and he must resign”
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Willie is a lot smarter then people give him credit for. However most if not all this is old news. Not saying its ok just that its old news.
Comment by Hard D Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 11:50 am
Looks like the non-Covid news dam broke.
Comment by Southside Markie Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 11:51 am
This is a strong example of someone having a scheduled press release in the hopper that should have waited until Monday…does he even have a staff?
Comment by NIU Grad Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 11:52 am
Who knows what Monday will bring, hopefully Madigan’s resignation.
Comment by Arock Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 11:58 am
==Who knows what Monday will bring, hopefully Madigan’s resignation.==
Snort.
Comment by Token Conservative Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:01 pm
Yeah that ought to really break right through the noise today. Probably top billing on primetime news tonight.
Comment by Excitable Boy Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:17 pm
Confused by the continued use of “Minority Whip” as a title for Durbin by Wilson’s Camp. I feel like those who know what it is wont be fooled by such a ploy and those who would be fooled don’t know what it is.
Comment by Dr. Near West Side Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:17 pm
===Durbin Voted against legislation in 2007 that would have banned spousal lobbying===
So it’s still legal then?
Senator Durbin’s spouse is not unique in becoming a lobbyist. Not unique at all. Is spousal lobbying something that should be stopped? I absolutely think so.
So here’s Willie Wilson making a good point.
But it’s probably not enough of a point to vote for him or to even vote against Durbin given the alternatives.
Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:17 pm
So the guy who get rich buying Chinese gloves, relabeling them, and selling them to the state under the minority set-aside program is complaining about someone ELSE profiting off the government?
Comment by yeah Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:18 pm
Willie Wilson, the guy who paid people in cash for their vote has a beef with someone else?
=Snort.=
Yep, snort.
Comment by JS Mill Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:21 pm
I can’t see what Wilson’s end goal is? Just to waste his money?
Comment by Just Me 2 Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:24 pm
I have been skeptical about our need for multibillion dollar nuclear ballistic missile submarines for sometime. But with the senior honcho on the Senate Appropriations Committee son a lobbyist for the Electric Boat Company it then makes some kind of sense.
Comment by Al Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:37 pm
Who wants to bet Willie Wilson finishes ahead of Mark Curran?
Comment by Token Conservative Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:37 pm
=Who wants to bet Willie Wilson finishes ahead of Mark Curran?=
Not a chance. Straight party voters are enough to put Curran over the top. The better bet is whether or not the votes cast for Curran and Willson collectively will eclipse Durbin.
Comment by Pundent Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 12:59 pm
And will Wilson get the 5% to establish a party
Comment by M Python Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 1:39 pm
Comment from Durbin’s office, I used to like Willie when he played for the Cubs.
Comment by pool boy Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:02 pm
“And will Wilson get the 5% to establish a party”
If he passes out enough money on the south and west sides. However, that might have him run afoul of federal campaign finance laws.
Comment by Huh? Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:06 pm
US Senator gets money for projects in his own state. Film at 11.
This is all meaningless. The Durbins are ethical transparent and just good people.
Comment by Siriusly Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 2:20 pm
Well said Siriusly. The only reason Wilson has this info is because everyone involved completed the proper public disclosures provided by the sunshine laws Durbin has always supported.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 4:04 pm
The criticism of Loretta Durbin is unfair. When she lobbied for EIU, I found her to be hard working and professional.
Comment by Oldtimer Monday, Jul 20, 20 @ 9:50 am