Richard J. Durbin

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Sen. Richard J. Durbin, Illinois Democrat, said the attorney general's decision on federal benefits for same-sex couples is "logical, consistent and compassionate." (associated press photographs)

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Senate Majority Whip Sen. Richard J. Durbin (above right) leads Sen. Charles E. Schumer, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Patty Murray out of a news conference after announcing that last-ditch efforts to avert spending cuts had failed. (Associated Press)

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"We're in a different kind of war,” Sen. Richard J. Durbin, Illinois Democrat (left), said on NBC's "Meet the Press.” about the use of drones. “We've got to strike a new constitutional balance.” (Associated Press)

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Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (right) of Nevada, seen here Thursday with fellow Democratic Sen. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, ridiculed his Republican counterpart for flip-flopping on a measure to give the president more debt-ceiling authority. (Associated Press)

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Senate Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin, Illinois Democrat, won his fight against debit-card fees. Now he wants banks to be more transparent when it comes to the costs associated with checking accounts. "[T]he bottom-line goal is to make sure people know what they're being charged and can determine whether it's fair," he said last week. (Associated Press)