By Mike Dorning and Monique Garcia
Roland Burris headed to Washington today to claim Illinois' disputed U.S. Senate seat, even as officials at the Senate rejected the paperwork sent by Gov. Rod Blagojevich to formally pave his way.
Secretary of the Senate Nancy Erickson rejected Burris' certificate of appointment to the Senate as invalid, said Beth Provenzano, a spokeswoman for Erickson. Senate rules require that the certificate be signed both by the governor and the secretary of state.
Provenzano said the certificate was signed by Blagojevich but she declined to answer a question on whether the certificate was signed by Secretary of State Jesse White, saying only that the certificate did not meet the requirements of the rule. White has said publicly that he would not sign the certificate.
Blagojevich, who faces criminal charges that he tried to sell the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama, has the sole authority to appoint a replacement. But Senate Democratic leaders and others have opposed his appointment last week of Burris, a former state comptroller and attorney general, on grounds that the governor's actions are tainted by the criminal charges.
Burris talked to reporters at Chicago's Midway Airport today before flying to Washington. He repeated his insistence that he is the state's junior U.S. senator and expects to be granted his seat in Washington on Tuesday.
"What has been done here is legal," Burris said, dismissing repeated questions about the scandal surrounding Blagojevich. "This is all politics and theater."
Burris said he still intended to meet Wednesday with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who has said Burris should not be allowed in the Senate because of the "corruption: surrounding Blagojevich.
"I will sit down and talk to Mr. Reid and tell him I'm here to take my seat," Burris said.
The Illinois House committee investigating whether to impeach Blagojevich has asked Burris to appear in Springfield on Wednesday, but Burris said that would have to wait until Thursday because he needs to be in Washington.
"I'm a United States senator," Burris said at the airport news conference. "They cannot stop me from...my senatorial duties."
Comments
Beginning to smell just like Obam -Rahm.- Blago.
Undoubltly , with Obama's aproval, the Senate Leaders have some one in mind other tthan Burris.
Anything to avoid a runoff.
Posted by: Inky | January 5, 2009 2:46 PM
Now thats leadership-
Blame "paperwork" on not sitting a legally appointed US Senator.
Posted by: heartburn | January 5, 2009 4:20 PM
The only association That exists in the Burris appointment is Blagojevich and Burris. I do not believe that Obama or Emanuel are in any way associated. If Inky were interested in fumigating the odor he would favor getting rid of the scent of Burris. Though I have no knowledge of any wrong doing by the candidate. The problem is that it is a tainted appointment, just like the Federal Attorney in New Mexico investigating Richardson. He replaced David Iglesias by order of Alberto Gonzalez, making him questionable in my mind. Keep the smell of Blagojevich out of the senate by not seating Burris. Burris has no standing because Blagojevich has pronounced that he felt entitled to sell the post. Before entering the Senate he needs to be vetted; he has not been.
Posted by: Ron M | January 5, 2009 5:06 PM
Blagojevich has not even been indicted, much less convicted. Burris was not mentioned at any point in the recorded conversations about the Senate appointment. Therefore, he was not part of any criminal activity with regard to the appointment. Rather, his appointment is a clean one in response to the indictment.
Burris is no criminal. He's not connected with the scandal, and he's been lawfully appointed
Posted by: Big Orange Satan | January 5, 2009 5:29 PM
The Senate has the right to refuse to seat Burris, and Powell v. McCormack is not relevant.
.
http://www.slate.com/id/2207754/
Posted by: MJ | January 5, 2009 6:45 PM
So people of Illinois, who can you impeach first? The sec. of state for refusing to do his job? Or the governor for refusing to stop doing his job? Burris awaits.
Posted by: Flo | January 5, 2009 7:25 PM
The only reason I can see that Burris would take this position is there is something in it for him. Does he think he needs additional health care and pension for himself? Is he soooo full of himself he needs to add this to his monument to himself??? Or is this the only way he can get into the seat he was not elected to for all these years of trying? We have to have a special election for the Rahm's seat for Rep, just include this Senate seat on the ballot. I'm sure the ballots have not been printed for that yet...seems like a no brainer to me. How much extra would that cost?
Posted by: lochnessmonster | January 5, 2009 7:41 PM
Beginning to smell just like Obam -Rahm.- Blago.
Undoubltly , with Obama's aproval, the Senate Leaders have some one in mind other tthan Burris.
Anything to avoid a runoff.
Posted by: Inky | January 5, 2009 2:46 PM
Inky,
You fit my vision of the average Repuglican perfectly. You can't spell and if you don't get your daily GOoPer talking points from Rush and Hannity, you have no idea what to say.
Posted by: Binky | January 5, 2009 7:42 PM
Burris was appointed under a cloud of uncertainty. He should have not accepted the appointment. He probably just gave himself a big hug and said "I CERTAINLY WILL". What a narccistic idiot. whiteagle38
Posted by: R. Juneau | January 5, 2009 9:15 PM
I can just picture it...at the Senate door... a hushed gallery...nervous Senators...and then "Mr. President, the Senators-elect and the "happy" black guy from Il."...an intro. right out of SNL...is Franken showing too?...gotta love the Dems...great theater of the absurd. What did Jessie say about anatomy...Blago sure has the Dems. Gotta love it...and the economy and world "burns"...sad.
Posted by: Bubba Porter | January 5, 2009 9:21 PM
Since Blagojevich said that he was going to give the appointment to the highest bidder, Burris has to prove that he was not a bidder. Blagojevich's appointment has to be proven to be legal, since he said he was going to make it illegally. Those wanting Burris seem to be in a hurry. Their self interest blinds their reason, but it should not blind ours.
Burris may not be a criminal but he also may be. It will all come out in the end.
Posted by: Ron M | January 5, 2009 9:46 PM
Ron M--you miss the OVERALL big ELEPHANT in the room--HOW CAN YOU TRUST A REPUGNICAN PROSECUTOR? PARTICULARLY ONE WHO FAILED TO PROSECUTE KARL ROVE FOR THE RELEASE OF VALERIE PLAME\'s name to sell the FAKE 'WMD' crap for this genocide committed to line the pockets of the oil companies?
How can you accept the arrest of the man the MORNING after he told Bank of America--"(sic) Hey! Wanna lose state biz after waltzing off with all that bailout money? Then keep those glass workers locked outta that factory."
Look--I don't know Blago--but this thing smells to high heaven. If the dems wanted a special election they shoulda asked for one.
Burris should be seated.
Where's my smelly old shoe?
Posted by: I'd throw one at the Dems too if I thought it would help | January 6, 2009 12:54 AM
Blago has not been proven guilty, has not been impeached and has not been indicted. He is still the Gov of Illinois and has the proper authority to make the appointment. Those wishing to remove his authority should go through the proper channels. Burris should be allowed to take his legally appointed seat.
As a Rep, I think the LAST thing we need is another Dem Senator but Burris is entitled to the seat and should have it.
Posted by: Angela | January 6, 2009 1:03 PM
IL Comgressman Bobby Rush pulling the race card? What in the High Holy Hell is that man thinking? That has absolutely NOTHING to do with why he was refused. His papers weren't in order due to the black Sec of State's refusal to sign them. How does that make this a race thing? Geez! Give us white folks SOME credit.
Posted by: Angela | January 6, 2009 1:11 PM