Sen. Mark Kirk Returning To Senate Jan. 3

By Chuck Sudo in News on Dec 6, 2012 6:45PM

Last month Sen. Mark Kirk told ABC 7 he was eyeing a January return to the Senate after missing nearly a year recovering from a debilitating stroke. We now have an exact date for Kirk's return.

The Tribune reports that Kirk will make his Senate return Jan. 3. Congressman Randy Hultgren leaked the date, which was confirmed by an unnamed Senate official who added the occasion would be marked by Kirk walking up the Capitol steps to the Senate chamber. Kirk counted the number of steps from the parking lot to the front door to the Senate's front door at 45, which he said was his immediate goal to climb.

Kirk recently participated in the Rehabilitation Institute's Stair Climb and climbed 37 flights of stairs at Willis (Sears) Tower. Kirk suffered a stroke in January, had several brain surgeries and has been rehabilitating since. In contrast to former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., Kirk has kept Illinois residents updated on his health status