The Latest Breaking News from Jim Durkin

Critics of a law to eliminate cash bail in Illinois starting Sunday fear a judge’s ruling that the plan is unconstitutional will create a chaotic system of pretrial release unless urgent action is taken

CHICAGO — Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who made banning the sale of assault weapons a key component of his successful reelection campaign this fall, for the first time voiced support for the recently unveiled proposal by Illinois House Democrats that includes outlawing the sale of certain assault-style guns, barring most people…

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — After months of blistering attacks from Republicans as well as some criticism from members of their own party, Democratic lawmakers came together during the final legislative session of the year to approve changes aimed at clarifying their controversial criminal justice overhaul.

One of the problems the super-majority Democrats have in both chambers is that when they know their bill is going to pass, they usually don’t take the Republicans’ objections seriously enough to fully engage with them.

House Republicans chose state Rep. Tony McCombie as their leader. The former Savanna mayor told the Sun-Times last week that the election showed “those that are on the extreme” are “not what Illinois wants.” Senate Republicans selected state Sen. John Curran of Downers Grove to guide their caucus.

It’s either jump into the far-right political bed with billionaire Richard Uihlein, or deal with the GOP’s stark fiscal reality and scramble every day to raise a few bucks here and there.

In a no-holds barred interview with the Sun-Times — the 13th interview he gave on Thursday — Durkin rated the state’s last five governors, bashed former President Donald Trump and railed on the current climate of the state’s Republican Party.

The blue wave that washed over Illinois on Tuesday gives Democrats the political cover to argue that despite the GOP blitzkrieg of negative TV ads, voters agree the provisions in the SAFE-T Act are sound public policy. Democrats say they expect “clean-up” language, but no substantial changes, in…

State House GOP Leader Jim Durkin’s decision not to seek reelection as minority leader reflects the dissatisfaction among many establishment Republicans. “I began this journey as a voice of moderation and conclude this journey the same way I started, a voice of moderation,” Durkin said.

Newly reelected Gov_ J_B_ Pritzker says his victory indicates that Illinois voters want the state to be a “beacon of hope and opportunity.”

Republican fundraising could not even come close to keeping pace with the Democrats.