[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after learning of the death of Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka.

“The Illinois political scene lost its Polka Queen last night and I lost a friend.  Judy Barr Topinka was one of a kind,” said Durbin.  “In a political world of cocker spaniels she could be a bulldog taking a bite out of both Democrats and right-wing Republicans without missing a beat.  She was a blue-collar, immigrants’ kid who lit up the room with her quick wit and boundless energy.”