Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., is taking a tough approach with Senate Republicans in their bid to limit the legal exposure of businesses to coronavirus lawsuits.
The Hill noted that Durbin, the Senate whip for the Democrats, is leading the opposition to a business-friendly Republican proposal on the COVID-19 relief negotiations.
Durbin and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, talked over the weekend in hopes of finding an agreed position on protecting employers from COVID-19 lawsuits. However, they failed to reach any compromise.
Cornyn called the talks with Durbin “very cordial” but fruitless.
“Basically, the trial lawyers don’t want any kind of liability reform and that’s what’s blocking this now,” he said.
Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, has suggested a retroactive “federal shield” for all of 2020. The Romney proposal calls for a duration that goes beyond the six-month moratorium on COVID-19 lawsuits called for in last week’s bipartisan relief bill, according to The Hill.
Cornyn said he’s “trying to support Sen. Romney” but that Durbin has rejected his proposal.
The Hill noted that Durbin is running to succeed Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., as the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Feinstein said she would step down from her role after public criticism of her bipartisan outreach and her handling of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation hearings.
Now, Durbin is facing opposition from some progressive groups who are backing Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.
“He (Durbin) can’t afford to cut what many on the left would consider a bad deal with Cornyn over these liability provisions,” said one Democrat strategist.
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.