Sen. Dick Durbin has indicated that he thinks former Gov. George Ryan has been punished enough, and will ask President Bush to commute Ryan’s sentence:

“Let’s look at the price he’s paid,” Durbin told reporters. “His family name has been damaged… . He has lost the economic security, which most people count on at his age. And he is separate from his wife at a time when she is in frail health. To say that he has paid a price for his wrongdoing – he certainly has. The question is whether continued imprisonment is appropriate at this point.”

Yes, Sen. Durbin, it is appropriate. Because he gave out licenses to unqualified drivers for bribes, people died. A judge and jury convicted him and sentenced him according to the law. It doesn’t matter that he used to be governor; he’s subject to the same laws and penalties as any other citizen. Commuting his sentence will only reinforce for everyone that there are two sets of laws — one for ordinary people and one for the politically connected.

Incidentally, the same article is on the Peoria Journal Star’s and the State Journal-Register’s respective websites, but the headlines are different. The State Journal-Register says, “Durbin may ask Bush to commute George Ryan prison sentence,” but the Journal Star says, “Sen. Durbin considers asking for Ryan pardon.” The Springfield paper got it right; the Journal Star headline writers apparently don’t know the difference between pardoning and commuting a sentence.

So, as a public service, allow me to explain: When you commute a sentence, you change the penalty, but the conviction stands. You still have a felony conviction on your record. When you pardon someone, you forgive the crime as well as the punishment; your felony conviction is expunged from your record. Big difference.