Richard Joseph "Dick" Durbin (born November 21 1944) is currently the senior United States Senator from Illinois and Democratic Whip, the second highest position in the party leadership in the Senate. Durbin is a member of the Roman Catholic church.

Early life

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Durbin was born to an Irish-American father and a Lithuanian-American mother in East St. Louis. He graduated from Assumption High School in East St. Louis in 1962. During his high school years he worked at a meat packing plant. He earned a B.S. from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in 1966. He served as an intern in the office of Illinois Senator Paul Douglas during his senior year in college. Durbin earned his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 1969 and was admitted to the Illinois bar later that year.

Durbin then opened a law practice in Springfield. He served as legal counsel to Lieutenant Governor Paul Simon from 1969 to 1972, and then as legal counsel to the Illinois State Senate Judiciary Committee from 1972 to 1982. He ran for lieutenant governor in 1978 as the running mate of State Superintendent of Schools Michael Bakalis; they were badly defeated by the Republican incumbents; Jim Thompson and Dave O'Neal. He then served as an associate professor at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine for five years while maintaining his law practice.

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washingtonpost.com: Recent votes in Congress

Congress 110, House vote: Vote 566: On Motion to Adjourn
Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0000
Question: On Motion to Adjourn. Category: Adjourn Result: Passed, 213-197, with 24 not voting.
Congress 110, House vote: Vote 565: H RES 1316
Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0000
Question: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree. Bill: H RES 1316 Vote description: Honoring the Service of the Navy and Coast Guard Veterans Who Served on the Lst Amphibious Landing Craft During Wwii, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, and Global Operations Through 2002 Result: Passed, 415-0, with 19 not voting.
Congress 110, House vote: Vote 564: H RES 1008
Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0000
Question: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, As Amended. Bill: H RES 1008 Vote description: Condemning the Persecution of Baha is in Iran Result: Passed, 408-3, with 23 not voting.
Congress 110, House vote: Vote 563: H R 6599
Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0000
Question: On Passage. Bill: H R 6599 Vote description: Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriation, Fy 2009 Result: Passed, 409-4, with 21 not voting.
Congress 110, House vote: Vote 562: H R 6599
Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0000
Question: On Motion to Table Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair. Bill: H R 6599 Vote description: Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriation, Fy 2009 Result: Passed, 230-184, with 20 not voting.
Congress 110, House vote: Vote 561: H R 6599
Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0000
Question: On Agreeing to the Amendment. Bill: H R 6599 Result: Failed, 143-275, with 21 not voting.

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