Senator Dick Durbin, Congressman Bill Foster and Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias visited campus Wednesday for a meet and greet sponsored by the College Democrats.

Durbin, who was introduced by Foster, spoke about his Republican counterparts consistently voting no and assuring America that there will be tax cuts for the wealthy.

“We’ve heard that song for eight years and it brought us the biggest deficit in the United States,” Durbin said. “We know that the strength of America is in the working families. It’s in opportunities for jobs for people graduating from Northern Illinois University.”

Durbin also shared his view on those who are calling for repeal of the health care reform.

“You want to repeal the rights of people to fight off their insurance companies when they’re denied coverage for a pre-existing condition?” Durbin asked.

Many students attending the meet and greet held posters proclaiming ‘I support the DREAM Act,’ or the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act, which would allow those who meet certain requirements to enlist in the military or go to college and have a path to citizenship. Durbin addressed these students specifically.

“My highest priority as state senator is to get the DREAM Act passed,” Durbin said.

Giannoulias spoke about the importance of coming together and voting in the upcoming election.

“Elections are about choices,” Giannoulias said. “We can go back to the failed, reckless, greedy economic policies that have brought this country to its knees or we can embrace the very best of this country’s history and invest…in making college more affordable, invest in putting people back to work and move this great country forward but that choice is up to all of us.”

Giannoulias also spoke about his parents, who immigrated to the United States from Greece.

“The very fact that I can stand before you today at the age of 34 as the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate is a testament not only to the sacrifices and hard work of my parents, but to the very values that this country has always channeled.”

Giannoulias also had a message for students.

“I’m here today to ask all of you, especially students here at NIU…to stand up, to get involved, to get engaged, not just to show up to the vote but to tell all your friends, to remind all of them, of the special and unique opportunity that we have to let our voices be heard.”