Colleague: Kirk Could Cast Senate Votes

is mentally sharp enough to cast critical votes in the Senate today, according to one of his colleagues, Rep. John Shimkus (R-Collinsville), who wrote at length about his Sunday visit with Kirk on a blog published in The Hill.

Kirk is recovering from a stroke suffered Jan. 21.

“Mentally he is sharp,” Shimkus writes. “I believe he could cast knowledgeable votes today. But he is in a critical time to continue to focus on improvement and strengthening his body and soul for the important work he looks forward to resuming.”

According to Shimkus, Kirk said his current rehabilitation program walking on a treadmill and in the hallways of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago is the hardest thing the senator has ever done in his life.

Up to now, very little has been written about Kirk’s condition and spirit. The Shimkus blog is the most detailed account to date.