Speaking in support of President Obama's budget proposal on the U.S. Senate floor today, Dick Durbin emphasized the need for action by highlighting a few stories of struggling Illinoisans.  First, he recounted the exorbitant health insurance burden shouldered by a Springfield small business owner with a preexisting condition.  Durbin asked: "Why in this wealthiest nation on earth do we accept a system like this, where a small businessman with insurance has to delay preventative care simply to avoid short-term cost?"  Watch it:

Durbin went on to tell the story of a Chicago school teacher who has failed to get out from under $60,000 in student loans provided under the problematic Federal Family Education Loan program: