Suburban Democrats join House floor sit-in
Several U.S. House Democrats from the suburbs participated in a multi-hour, high-profile sit-in to try to pressure Republicans for a vote on federal gun control legislation.
The rare, raucous floor display included Democratic Reps. Tammy Duckworth of Hoffman Estates, Jan Schakowsky of Evanston, Bill Foster of Naperville and Mike Quigley of Chicago and Sen. Dick Durbin of Springfield.
“I'm tired of seeing children who are sitting in their living rooms or bedrooms killed by bullets coming through the windows and walls of their homes,” Duckworth, who is running for Senate against Republican Sen. Mark Kirk of Highland Park, said in a statement. “It is absolutely horrific.”
The Senate Monday blocked four gun control measures. Kirk voted the same way as Democrats on the proposals and criticized the Senate's inaction shortly after.
The suburban lawmakers used social media to post photos and messages from the House floor.
“All we are asking for is a vote,” Quigley posted on Twitter. “Do the right thing & bring this bill to the floor.”