Bipartisan bug bites colleagues of ailing senator

Once you make it past the political labels, talking points and heated debates, real human beings can be found among the politicians who run the country.

When the chips are down for one of their own, many elected officials drop their political façades and act like reasonable, caring people.

The nation experienced that phenomenon last year when a Democratic Arizona congresswoman, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, was shot. Her recent resignation brought a renewal of kind thoughts for her continued recovery.

Illinois has experienced similar good feelings recently in the wake of the stroke suffered Jan. 21 by U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, a Republican.

Colleagues from both parties chimed in with good wishes for Illinois’ junior senator.

In particular, Kirk’s friend, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., praised Kirk’s bipartisan spirit.

We’re glad to see that U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., also was bitten by the bipartisan bug.

After news of Kirk’s health crisis spread, Durbin issued a statement saying he was “stunned” by the development and offered prayers for Kirk’s recovery.

“I have reached out to his staff and offered to do anything I can to help with his Senate duties,” Durbin said.

True to his word, Durbin reported last week that he has been working with Kirk’s staff to promote legislation championed by his stricken colleague.

Durbin is in a prime position to follow through on his pledge, as he is the No. 2 man in the Senate leadership.

Among Kirk’s proposals, which might otherwise languish during his recovery, is a bill to make it harder for members of Congress to collect pensions if they are found guilty of a felony as an elected official. Kirk wants to expand the law to cover 22 additional crimes, including insider trading.

The full Senate adopted the amendment last week; that’s good news for the Kirk camp.

Among other things, Kirk backs the Lincoln Legacy Infrastructure Development Act to mobilize private funds for public projects. He also wants the U.S. to keep tightening economic sanctions on Iran to curb its nuclear weapons program.

We’ll see whether Durbin can push those causes forward, too.

Kirk is now listed in good condition at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Surgeons reattached a portion of his skull that was removed to accommodate stroke-induced brain swelling.