Dick Durbin: “But now we find ourselves in a curious position.”

The lack of community involvement and speed with which this project has moved forward raises questions about the role of private interests.

To leave here without this being a law finalized to protect these young people … is painful, really painful. I don’t want them to feel like I’m abandoning them.

You can’t survive in politics unless you’re optimistic. You’ve got to believe that even though you face a setback or you don’t have all the laws you need, that tomorrow will be better.

Public executions have no place in a democracy.