CHICAGO (WLS) — Back from Washington. D.C., Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin says he has no regrets about his controversial vote ending the government shutdown.
Durbin made his point while visiting a food bank in Edgewater.
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Since 2020, the Care for Real food bank has seen a 400% increase in Chicagoans coming in for food assistance. It has only gotten worse since Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits were cut off during the government shutdown.
Durbin says he could no longer allow families to go hungry or air traffic controllers to work long hours without paychecks.
“Several members said behind closed doors, ‘we’re one air traffic accident away from ending the shutdown.’ We were running a risk there. And these men and women, wonderful as they may be, can only take so much,” Durbin said.
Durbin continues to strongly defend his decision to vote with the Republicans to end the shutdown. The retiring senator says it was about doing the right thing. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer tried to talk Durbin out of it. All week, Durbin has been highly criticized by his Democratic colleagues.
“Caving in to people that lie viciously to you isn’t the way that we’re going to be able to make sure that people are eating and that people are able to keep their health care,” said U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez, a Democrat representing the 3rd District.
Democrats were holding out to put pressure on Republicans to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies. For many recipients, health care premiums are doubling and tripling.
“People feel strongly about the Trump administration and their policies, and they want to change it. I agree with that. I think we disagree on the approach,” Durbin said.
Durbin says his approach is compromise. The deal struck with Republicans includes funding SNAP; WIC, or Women Infant Children; and veterans programs at a higher level and hiring back furloughed federal workers. In addition, Senate Republican Majority Leader John Thune verbally promised Durbin he will allow debate and a vote on a minority written ACA bill in December.
“I think we’ve set the stage for a bipartisan approach to this issue in the Senate,” Durbin said.
But, many Democrats don’t trust the Republicans and doubt an ACA vote will happen. Durbin reminds his colleagues there was no guarantee a continued government shutdown would result in a vote either.
Even if Senate and House Republicans do not allow a vote on extending ACA subsidies, Durbin says the Democrats have successfully brought the issue to the forefront, which Durbin says will help them in the 2026 elections.
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