Associated Press - Durbin Calls Walgreen Decision a Victory, Oberweis Dissents

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As U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin declared victory Wednesday for Walgreen Co.'s decision to keep its headquarters in Illinois, Republican businessman Jim Oberweis accused him of "bullying," saying the Senate's second-ranking Democrat deserved scorn -- not praise -- for his efforts.

"His bullying of (Walgreen) was a political stunt designed to help only one person: Dick Durbin," said Oberweis, a state senator and dairy magnate trying to unseat Durbin on Nov. 4. "It didn't create any jobs. It didn't reform our job-killing tax code."

Durbin led the effort to stop Deerfield-based Walgreen from relocating its headquarters to Switzerland to reduce its U.S. taxes, warning its CEO in a letter last month that the company might find its customers are "deeply patriotic and will not support Walgreen's decision to turn its back on the United States."

He also sponsored legislation to stop American companies that incorporate overseas from getting federal contracts, asked President Barack Obama to sign an executive order to make the practice more difficult and started an online petition he said generated more than 19,000 signatures.

Walgreen announced Wednesday it would stay headquartered in Deerfield, Ill., saying it was "mindful of the ongoing public reaction."

Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, who is seeking his second full term, condemned the growing trend as "unpatriotic."

Walgreen, the nation's largest drugstore chain, has been based in Illinois for more than a century.

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