By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – With U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) in Springfield for the ribbon-cutting of a massive rail project, it was only apt for reporters to ask him about the proposed merger of two railroads, Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern.

“We’re concerned about the impact of this merger on the communities next to the railroad,” said Durbin, hoping the deal is not approved. “We want them to be sensitive to the displacement and some of the problems they’re creating in suburban towns, particularly. Suburban towns don’t have what we have here: underpasses and overpasses.”

Durbin finds himself wanting to help a political rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, now one of the nation’s most prominent Republicans. So we want to help DeSantis after Hurricane Ian, but we don’t like him when he ships migrants north?”

“You missed the best chapter,” said Durbin. “When he was in Congress, he voted against relief for Hurricane Sandy. A handful of Republican congressmen said they didn’t want to give that relief. They were warned at the time, you know, this could happen in your district, in your state. Now it’s come home to roost.”