Years served: 1995-2002; 2006-Present
Committee assignments: Investigative Committee (Republican Spokesperson); Public Utilities; Financial Institutions; Labor; Environment & Energy; Computer Technology; Electric Generation & Commerce; Elections & Campaign Reform.
TAXES AND SPENDING
Durkin voted for a huge electric rate increase.
Durkin helped pass SB1652 – a huge electric rate increase sought by ComEd and Ameren. (2011)
Durkin voted to raise sales taxes and fees.
Durkin voted for HB255 significantly raising the sales tax on a number of grocery related items including beverages, candy, and health and beauty aids. Taxes on beer, wine and other alcohol were also hiked. HB255 also triples the driver’s license fee. Further, this bill legalizes video gambling for bars and taverns. You can call that a “voluntary” tax if you want - but it still represents a big tax hike. Those bars and taverns don’t just hand over a big cut of their gambling machine proceeds to the state out of the goodness of their hearts. It’s a tax that gets the state its share of the machines’ take. (2009)
Durkin voted for Governor Blagojevich’s diversion of $385 million from the state’s general revenue fund to the Regional Transportation Authority.
SB0307 proposed using sales tax collected on motor fuel sold within the six Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) counties (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will) to fund the regions’ mass transit systems. (2007)
Durkin voted for the Democrats’ pork-bloated FY2008 $59 BILLION budget.
Durkin’s vote for HB3866 demonstrates inability as a legislator to seriously address Illinois’ chronic fiscal crisis that’s attributable to out-of-control spending, an antiquated pension system, and government corruption. (2007)
EDUCATION
Durkin voted to exempt teachers, principals and school superintendents from FOIA disclosure.
At the urging of the teachers’ unions and just months after approving what was billed as a sweeping reform of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, Durkin voted for SB315. The bill exempts from FOIA disclosure of performance evaluations for teachers, principals and school superintendents. Also supporting SB315 was the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 which seeks the same exemption for all public employees who receive performance evaluations. (2010)
Durkin was absent when the vote was taken to support a Constitutional Convention.
HB0025 urged the electorate to support the calling of a Constitutional Convention. The Illinois Education Association (IEA) fears giving taxpayers the opportunity to debate and decide upon school funding reforms in Illinois. Instead, the IEA wants to keep the power in the hands of politicians whose votes can be easily bought and controlled by teachers’ union PAC money. (2007)
Durkin voted to prohibit parents’ right to alternative education.
HB0232 prohibits the State Board of Education and school boards from establishing, maintaining, or in any way supporting any virtual schools or virtual classes for elementary or secondary students in this State. (2007)
Durkin voted to increase education spending by nearly $600 million.
Durkin’s vote for HB3866 proves he is incapable and unwilling to address the public education-spending crisis in Illinois. Instead of leading with bold reforms, Durkin follows the Democrats’ dishonest argument that blames school failures on “not enough money.” (2007)
Durkin voted for a $45 million taxpayer-funded experiment - Universal Preschool.
According to National Taxpayers United of Illinois, SB1497 will once again prove that “universal preschool” schemes yield benefits that simply do not justify the costs involved. (2006)
GAMBLING
Durkin voted for a massive expansion of gambling.
Durkin voted for HB255 - a massive expansion of gambling in Illinois. HB255 legalizes video gambling for bars and taverns, and permits Internet Lottery on computers and cell phones. Video gambling machines are often called the “crack cocaine” of gambling because of the speed of play and the rapid onset of addiction. (2009)
Durkin voted to subsidize horseracing through riverboat casinos.
HB1918 requires riverboat casinos that have gross receipts of more than $200 million in 2004 to pay 3% of their adjusted gross income to the Horse Racing Trust Fund. (2006)
Durkin voted to legalize video gambling in bars across Illinois.
HB1124 would have legalized gambling on video game “contests” of two or more in bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, and other venues. (2007)
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
Dukin was absent when the vote was taken to give driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.
Under HB1100, anyone would be able to obtain a driver’s license without proof of citizenship and with no Social Security number. They can call it a “driver’s certificate” - they can call it anything. But the fact is HB1100 would allow an illegal immigrant to obtain full driving privileges. That’s a driver’s license pure and simple. (2007)
2ND AMENDMENT
Durkin voted against concealed carry.
Durkin voted NO on a bill that would allow Illinois residents to carry concealed handguns. HB148 (which had support from even many Democratic lawmakers) failed by just six votes in the House. (2011)
NANNY STATE
Durkin voted with the Radical Left for a ban on trans fats.
Durkin voted with the Radical Left for a ban on trans fats on food served in restaurants, movie theaters, cafes, bakeries, and through school vending machines (HB1600). Fortunately cooler heads prevailed in the Senate where the nanny staters and their ridiculous bill were defeated. (2011)
REFORM (or the lack there)
Durkin voted to exempt teachers, principals and school superintendents from FOIA disclosure.
At the urging of the teachers’ unions and just months after approving what was billed as a sweeping reform of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, Durkin voted for SB315. The bill exempts from FOIA disclosure of performance evaluations for teachers, principals and school superintendents. Also supporting SB315 was the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 which seeks the same exemption for all public employees who receive performance evaluations. (2010)
Durkin voted to make it more difficult for write-in candidate to get on the ballot.
SB662 changed the deadline for filing to be a write-in candidate to 61 days before an election. The purpose for this change is purely for incumbent protection. (2007)
Durkin desperately opposes a common sense reform that would once again allow ALL Republicans to directly elect the senior leadership of their own Illinois Republican Party.
Durkin continues to keep rank-and-file Republicans from having the same voice all Illinois Democrats enjoy in their State Party. Durkin opposes SB600 - returning to the better system of direct election Illinois Republicans used until the late 1980’s. Illinois has been a “Blue State” ever since the change to the easily corruptible system Durkin dishonestly still protects.
Durkin fecklessly looked to Democrat House Speaker Mike Madigan to rid the Illinois Republican Party of controversial National Committeeman Bob Kjellander.
Instead of taking serious and mature action, Durkin joined House Republican Leader Tom Cross’ scheme and Co-Sponsored HB5861, asking the Democrats to help take care of the Kjellander mess, an issue which is solely a Republican responsibility. House Speaker Madigan understandably just laughed at the Republicans’ idea. Madigan rightly told Republicans to clean-up their own Republican house and to stop wasting the General Assembly’s time on what is a purely a matter internal to the State GOP. Kjellander could have been removed and replaced with an honest leader a lot earlier, if our Republican leaders really wanted to get the job done.
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