Duckworth, Durbin push back in shutdown blame game

Posted on January 21, 2018

By Patrick Baron

BLOOMINGTON – With the second day of the federal government shutdown underway, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin are firing back at the Trump Administration.

President Trump took to Twitter to point the finger at Democrats refusing to compromise on a budget in favor of a shutdown. Trump wrote “Democrats are holding our military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration.” In response, Duckworth, a U.S. Army veteran, wrote back, “I will not be lectured about what our military needs by a five-deferment draft dodger.”

Meanwhile, Durbin took to the Senate floor, saying “President Trump and the Republicans continue to ignore their responsibility to govern.”

Several Illinois representatives, including Rodney Davis and Darin LaHood, issued a joint statement urging Duckworth and Durbin to support the funding bill and reopen the government.

President Trump has said he will not sign any bill that does not include strict border control, while democrats want more protection for certain undocumented immigrants, particularly children in the DACA program.

Patrick Baron can be reached at [email protected].

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