Durkin, GOP Reps Introduce Gang, School Violence Legislation

New bills call for stiffer sentencing for gang-related gun offenses, gang recruitment.

State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) and House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) joined with fellow Republican legislators Tuesday in introducing legislation aimed at keeping Illinois children and communities safe from violence. According to Cross’ website, the “Protect Our Children” intiative targets gang- and school-related violence. The intiative introduces four new bills. They are: “We cannot sit idle with the catastrophic gun violence occurring in the streets of Chicago on a daily basis. We know the enemy—the street gangs and members of the drug trade. We can no longer tolerate the loss of innocent children and law-abiding citizens. We are taking a harsh but necessary position with these bills to rid our neighborhoods of this …

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Durkin on Quinn Budget Address: 'Harsh Reality of Failure' on Pensions

The assistant Illinois House Republican leader and 82nd District rep said pension reform should be Springfield's number one priority.

Assistant Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-82) issued a statement on Wednesday in response to Gov. Pat Quinn's 2014 budget address in which the governor chastized the legislature for failing to reform the state's underfunded public pensions system In a bit of bipartisan agreement, Durkin's statement echoed Quinn in pushing the need for pension reform: “The Governor’s Address is a harsh reality of failure to pass meaningful reforms in Illinois. A solution to the pension problem should have been wrapped up, sealed and sent to the governor last month. "We should have passed a comprehensive pension reform bill passed before today. There is nothing more important to the state’s fiscal integrity than meaningful pension reform, …

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Durkin Introduces Bill Against Illinois Lame-Duck Sessions

The Western Springs legislator made good Wednesday on an earlier pledge, filing a bill that would eliminate the biennial “loophole” for passing legislation.

Illinois House District 82 Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) introduced House Bill 195 on Wednesday with the intent of ending the practice of passing bills with a simple majority right before a new General Assembly convenes. Every odd calendar year in Illinois, the “lame-duck” session occurs in early January before the new General Assembly is sworn in. It allows bills to be passed—and go into effect by June 1 of that year—with a simple majority, including votes from members who are about to end their terms and may not be returning. “These two factors, a lower standard and decreased constituent accountability, play into the appeal of using the lame-duck session as a way to move otherwise highly controversial legislation,” Durkin said in a…

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Mouse

11:56 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013

Well I'm sure Jim will send your check as soon as he reads your comment. I amend my post; YOU are the problem, Dave. YOU keep electing these do-nothing squirrels to the state legislature and then wondering why we're in over our heads. Nice job.   more ›

Durkin Blasts Lame-Duck Action in Illinois Congress

The Western Springs Republican (District 82) said that Illinois government is attempting to circumvent a thoughtful discussion on several controversial bills.

Illinois State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-82nd, Western Springs) is speaking out against some state lawmakers' attempts to pass new laws, including banning assault weapons and allowing same-sex marriage during Springfield's lame-duck session, The Doings Oak Brook reports. According to the paper, while Durkin has not yet stated clear support or opposition to either assault-weapons bans or same-sex marriage, he said that rushing bills through without extensive discussion and public input is unfair, and that he intends to sponsor a new bill "to prevent lame-duck session abuses." “I’ve had it with the 11th hour passage of bills which do not get the thorough vetting before the public and members of the legislature," the paper quoted Durkin as saying. "…

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m hardy

10:21 am on Saturday, January 5, 2013

Navel-gazing restricts your ability to see the interconnectivity of society. If in your purview "the gay marriage issue is important to a select few”, then the Suffrage and Civil Rights movements would have only been important to a select few as well. Rights issues do not deserve the back burner. A white knuckled clench to define “marriage” as man and woman, has the relevance of defining a phone …   more ›

Snapshot: Sen. Christine Radogno Speaks with Area Seniors During Lemont Senior Event

Radogno and Rep. Jim Durkin co-hosted a free senior health fair at the CORE Fitness and Aquatic Complex on Wednesday.

More than a hundred area residents seeking information on how to plan for retirement and beyond attended a free Senior Health Fair hosted by Illinois Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) and Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) on Wednesday. The event was held at the Lemont Park District’s CORE Fitness and Aquatic Complex, 16050 W. 127th St., and featured refreshments, free heath screenings and information on assisted living, safety and financial security.  Radogno said in a news release that she enjoys hosting local events, which give her an opportunity to speak with attendees about a variety of issues. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  There are plenty of ways to keep up on Lemont news:

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Sen. Christine Radogno, Rep. Jim Durkin Host Senior Heath Fair at Lemont Park District

The fair will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Aug. 15, at the CORE Fitness and Aquatic Complex, 16050 W. 127th St.

Sen. Christine Radogno, Rep. Jim Durkin Host Senior Heath Fair at Lemont Park District

The fair will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Aug. 15, at the CORE Fitness and Aquatic Complex, 16050 W. 127th St.

State Sen. Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) and State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) are hosting a free Senior Health Fair on Wed., Aug. 15 featuring approximately 40 local and state participants. The event will be held Wednesday, Aug. 15, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Lemont Park District’s CORE Fitness and Aquatic Complex, 16050 W. 127th St. Refreshments will be provided, and guests can take advantage of free heath screenings to assess hearing, grip strength and balance assessment, and to check blood pressure. Information will be available on a variety of topics including transportation and assisted living options, home and fire safety, and financial security—including how to save money on utilities. The State Treasure’s Office will also …

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Durkin Takes Landslide Victory in 82nd District

The incumbent Republican representative defeated challenger Laura Reigle with 75 percent of the vote.

There will be a familiar face on the November ballot for the Illinois House’s 82nd District. Incumbent State Rep. Jim Durkin won the district’s Republican nomination with 75.4 percent of the vote, defeating challenger Laura Reigle. No one ran in the 82nd District Democratic primary, which means Durkin will be running unopposed in the general election, barring the appointment of a Democratic candidate. “We’ve got significant challenges ahead of us,” Durkin said Tuesday night. “I’m honored Republican voters in the 82nd District have confidence that I’m the best candidate to represent their interests in Springfield.” With the primary over, Durkin said the Illinois General Assembly now faces a month-and-a-half of tough discussions as they work…

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