House Republicans say it’s past time for Illinois to stand up for Ukraine

Posted on March 9, 2022
Citing a large Ukrainian population in the state, Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) says the state must get involved. (Dave Dahl/WJBC)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Republicans in the Illinois House say they want to respond to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Citing a large Ukrainian population in the state, Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) says the state must get involved.

“Our role,” Durkin told a statehouse news conference Tuesday, “is to restrict Russia’s interest in our pension systems, and also to restrict our state treasurer from making investments within any type of Russian-domiciled entity which is doing business with the state of Illinois”

The speaker’s office says Durkin’s bill does not go far enough – and Democrats are working on a more comprehensive bill. A spokeswoman for the speaker said the speaker and Durkin met Tuesday morning to discuss it – before Durkin’s news conference criticizing the speaker for being uninvolved.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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