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Sauerberg criticizes Durbin's immigration efforts

Posted February 05, 2008 10:00 pm

Meagan Sexton

Dr. Steve Sauerberg, who won Tuesday's Illinois Republican primary for the U.S. Senate, said Wednesday that Sen. Dick Durbin is out of touch with his constituents.

"The people of Illinois have lost faith in career politicians and in the leadership in Springfield and Washington," Sauerberg said. "People all across our great state believe that Springfield and Washington are broken, and they're right."

Sauerberg, of Lombard, also said that Durbin, a Springfield Democrat, had his chance to end illegal immigration but instead made it worse.

Durbin spokesman Mike Daly said Durbin's role as assistant Senate majority leader gives him the ability to "develop economic opportunities for the middle class across the state."

"It's easy to throw around inflammatory words, but the record doesn't reflect it, and the people don't believe it," Daly said.

If elected, Sauerberg plans to propose an immigration plan that would require all visitors entering the United States to carry a tamper-proof identification card. His plan also would prohibit states from issuing driver's licenses and identification cards to illegal immigrants. He believes it should be a federal crime to open a bank account, wire money out of the country or cash a check without valid identification.

"We need to deny taxpayer benefits to those who can't prove their legal status," he said.

Daly said that Durbin's highest priority is the economic stimulus package being put together in Congress and not campaigning.

"We're going to stick to business for the time being," Daly said.

Meagan Sexton can be reached at (217) 782-6882.

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