by Jill Zuckman
Roland Burris won his battle to succeed Barack Obama as the junior senator from Illinois this afternoon as Senate Democratic leaders dropped their objections and said they expect him to be seated this week.
The agreement came after Senate lawyers said Burris met the chamber's rules and could be sworn in.
"Barring objections from Senate Republicans, we expect Senator-designee Burris to be sworn in and formally seated later this week," said a joint statement from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin.
The Senate Democratic leaders had told Burris last week that he needed to testify before the Illinois House impeachment committee about his relationship with Gov. Rod Blagojevich and submit a signature from Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White certifying his appointment by Blagojevich.
"We have spoken to Mr. Burris to let him know that he is now the Senator-designate from Illinois and as such, will be accorded all the rights and privileges of a Senator-elect," said the joint statement.
Senate Democrats initially balked when Blagojevich announced he was appointing Burris to the Senate seat. Their objection, they said, had nothing to do with Burris, but the fact that a potentially corrupt governor had appointed him.
"As we had outlined to Mr. Burris, a path needed to be followed that respects the rules of the Senate. We committed to Mr. Burris that once those requirements were satisfied, we would be able to proceed," Reid and Durbin said. "We are pleased that everything is now in order, we congratulate Senator-designee Burris on his appointment and we look forward to working with him in the 111th Congress."
Senate Republicans, meanwhile, say they have no objection to the seating of Burris, who waged a lonely struggle to claim the seat that included standing in the rain outside the Capitol after officials turned him away.
The Blagojevich-Burris saga caused heartburn for the Senate as it watched a governor accused of corruption and facing federal indictment trying to force them to accept a senator of his choosing all the while accusing Reid, the Senate Majority Leader, of racism.
The Secretary of the Senate originally denied Burris's request to be seated, citing a rule dating back to 1884 that requires an appointee to present both a nomination from his home state governor and a certification by the Secretary of State. Burris had one, but not the other.
White decided to reverse course on Friday evening. He submitted a certificate signed by White and stamped with the state seal attesting that the accompanying Blagojevich appointment letter is a "true and accurate copy" of what was registered by the secretary of state. And that paved the way for Senate lawyers to accept Burris's appointment.
Comments
It's about freaking time!
Posted by: Blinky | January 12, 2009 4:49 PM
Much, Much better than the OBAMA - RAHM - BLAGO List..
Posted by: Inky | January 12, 2009 5:04 PM
As Dick & Harry steer the ship of the Senate we can only hope there are plenty of lifeboats aboard.
My only question now is if Harry is the Scarecrow and Dick is the Lion and Nancy is the Witch, does that make the President-elect Dorthy?
Posted by: Mike C | January 12, 2009 5:33 PM
Another show of great leadership from the dems! The economy, Iraq, Afghanistan, N. Korea, Iran and Russia should be a cake walk for these boys.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | January 12, 2009 5:41 PM
Typical Bush Republican, let's call people names, let's throw some rocks. When are you going to put away the childish tactics? No time soon, I'm sure. You have nothing better to offer, but insults and lies. Can't even get your own ideas, have to swipe The Wizard of Oz images. Just your speed !! Go win an election, if you can !!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | January 12, 2009 5:50 PM
We got played by Fitzgerald again.
The ONLY reason he arrested Blago when he did was to throw a monkey wrench in the Obama transition.
He arrests the guy, doesn't charge him with any clear crime, asks for a 90 day extension so he can "gather evidence" (something that is supposed to be done BEFORE an arrest), and sits back as the new Democratic senate gets bogged down in this sideshow.
Blago may be an idiot, but so far that's not illegal.
I'm very curious to see if Fitzgerald will be able to build an actual case against Blago, and bring charges against him.
Posted by: Big Orange Satan | January 12, 2009 6:02 PM
Unfortunately, there will be some fallout from the mistakes made by the leaders of the Senate and our own " leaders ", here in lllinois !! To have flaunted the law and to have insulted an elected official of Roland Burris' caliber can not go overlooked ! The voters of Illinois better not just look at the doings of Governor Blagojevich, but of all of our longstanding politicians, in every branch of government. Sponsorship, for a job, is not the problem, it is patronage, that practice that allows " workers " to be untouchable, regardless of their laziness or incompetence. To allow them to keep a good job, because of who they know, not how well they work, should be vigorously eliminated !! Horse-trading is one thing, but extorting is another thing, and a crime, too !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | January 12, 2009 6:03 PM
High time....I suggested after Burris was appointed and again when he visited DC,expecting to be seated....that they needed to seat him.....these guys Reid and the Illinois Senior Senator Durbin made this a circus.....that was unnecessary. They lost their dignity and tried to upend Senator Burris' dignity,,,,Shame....shame....
Congratulations Senator Burris even prior to being sworn in by the Vice President.....you have earned your stripes!!! We should take pride in your being seated.
Posted by: CHEEZGRITS | January 12, 2009 6:23 PM
It's good that this is over. That's the only good thing to say about this.
Posted by: C.Morris✈ | January 12, 2009 6:27 PM
This might finally put an end to what has been an eminently embarrassing situation for both Senate Democrats and President-elect Obama.
But no one comes out of this looking worse than Harry Reid (and Dick Durbin). To get pushed around by Blago is a big gaffe for someone already seen as a weak leader.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | January 12, 2009 6:38 PM
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | January 12, 2009 6:03 PM
Don- I'm 100% behing you on this statement , but don't hold your breath, think Obama is going to move this issue to the botom of his CHANGE list.
Posted by: Inky | January 12, 2009 6:59 PM
"...to have insulted an elected official of Roland Burris' caliber can not go overlooked..."
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | January 12, 2009 6:03 PM
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Don Fitzgerald!!! This is the funniest post by you I've seen in months!!! Roland Burris' caliber??? That's a .22 short, right???
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Burris has never been connected to a money or sex scandal, so by Illinois standards he's often called a decent politician. However, he is as accomplished and inspiring as your average brick. He has made a career out of failure, running for office and losing.
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But worse than being a perennial dud, in 1992 as States Attorney Burris refused to consider dropping the capital case against Rolando Cruz after another man confessed to the crime. Burris would have executed an innocent man if he'd had his way. So even calling him a decent dud is really a stretch, Don!!!
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http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/16981.html
Posted by: MJ | January 12, 2009 8:54 PM
I think Dick Durbin precipitated the arrest of Blago.
Recall about 1 week before, Durbin announced he had sent a letter to W asking for commutation of Ryan's sentence.
I think Fitzgerald was enraged and decided to go public on Blago to intimidate the WH from acceding to Durbin's request.
This was obviously not Fitzgerald's finest hour--that over the top press conference.
Anyways, W still has time to commute Ryan's sentence.
In fact, he still has time to bomb Iran.
I think he's looking forward, however, to the big straw hat on the beach and the bottle of Jack.
Posted by: ornery | January 12, 2009 11:28 PM
Geez, Roland Burris, as State's Attorney !! You must live in the State of Confusion. Go check your facts, before you try to smear someone !! Oh, that's right, you loser, Bush Republicans never did let facts get in the way of your lies !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | January 12, 2009 11:39 PM
Il. voters get the shaft again. Burris is a sacrificial lamb, dirty too. There are a few questions about "pay to play" in his lobbying, state contracts, 1.2 mil. free (never asked for the money back) campaign loan, and least of all his judgment, that were never really answered. Why assume that we accept him as our Senator when we rejected his candidacy for governor? What a sad joke he is to be deluded that he is our Senator, rather Blago's boy.
Posted by: Bubba Porter | January 13, 2009 1:11 AM
"...Bush Republicans never did let facts get in the way of your lies !!"
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | January 12, 2009 11:39 PM
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Ooh... after all this time Don Fitzgerald! finally found a "Gotcha"!!! It's a pretty flimsy one, tho, Don!!!
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Right, I typed States Attorney when I meant Attorney General!!! But Don! what about the fact that Burris wanted to execute an innocent man??? No comment about that??? I'm not surprised!!!
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Oh, one more thing, Don!!! Calling facts "smears" doesn't change things!!! Burris still wanted to send an innocent man to his death!!!
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GOTCHA!!!
Posted by: MJ | January 13, 2009 7:49 AM
The Senate Dems surrendered to Blago, Burris, and the race-baiting Bobby Rush.
After this, does anybody expect the Senate Dems to stand up to Al Queda?
Posted by: Change You Can Believe In | January 13, 2009 9:40 AM
Classic Harry Reid. Puff, puff, puff, fold. Blago played Reid, Durbin, et al. like complete fools. The flimsy leg they were standing on, the SOS certification, was a joke from the start. Their argument was essentially that the IL SOS has de facto veto power over the governor's appointment. Wrong.
Posted by: Herbie H. | January 13, 2009 11:55 AM
The Senate Dems surrendered to Blago, Burris, and the race-baiting Bobby Rush.
After this, does anybody expect the Senate Dems to stand up to Al Queda?
Posted by: Change You Can Believe In | January 13, 2009 9:40 AM
Yeah, how dare they follow the law and the Constitution! A Republican Congress would have no problem ignoring those things. We need Republican arbitrary rule unrestrained by and legal considerations back!
Posted by: J. Madison | January 13, 2009 12:18 PM
Hey, gotcha, are you sure you typed what you meant, this time ? Are you sure !!? There is a big difference between an Attorney General, of a state, and an State's Attorney !! That must have been the class you cut, concerning Civics, or was it your Typing class !!?
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | January 13, 2009 1:43 PM
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | January 13, 2009 1:43 PM
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Hey Don!!! Still no comment about Burris wanting to execute an innocent man???. Even tho at the time, newspapers and TV news editorials, various politicians -- even Deputy attorney general Mary Brigid Kenney -- were pleading for Rolando Cruz???
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C'mon, Don!!! What do you think of that???
Posted by: MJ | January 13, 2009 4:49 PM
I knew it was only a matter of time before the Senate realized they had to seat Burris. With a few notable exceptions (like Diane Feinstein) I think the members of the Democratic Caucus punched themselves in the nose and tarnished their reputation with regard to following the Constitution.
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J. Madison: Democrats have no place to speak about ignoring the Constitution, and particularly its limitations on the power of the federal government. All of this “living Constitution” rhetoric comes from Democrats, and it is invariably cited as a reason NOT to follow the plain meaning of the Constitution’s text. However, I will agree that neither major party is very good at following the Constitution. There have been too many times when they didn’t just ignore the Constitution, but rather threw it down and stomped on it.
Posted by: John W. | January 13, 2009 5:11 PM