Ill. Gov. Pat Quinn at a news conference to discuss special elections for future U S Senate vacancies, on Friday, Feb. 20, 2009. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
by Mark Silva
One governor appointed him to the Senate.
The new governor says he should resign.
Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) wouldn't appear to have much room to navigate between his appointment to office by the impeached former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who stands accused by federal authorities of having attempted to sell the Senate seat, and the succeeding Gov. Patrick Quinn, who looks at the events of the past week -- with Burris now acknowledging that he had agreed to try to help Blagojevich raise money for his election campaign -- and concludes that Illinois' appointed junior senator must resign.
Burris should "act as quickly as possible for the best interests of Illinois," Quinn said at a late morning news conference. "This should not be a matter that takes weeks."
It certainly won't leave Burris much time, or room to move, if he returns to a Congress returning from recess next week, to face colleagues questioning why Burris' recollection of what he was willing to do for the disgraced Blagojevich apparently conflicts with what Burris had told the Illinois legislature in its proceedings against the governor.
Our colleague David Savage has reported that the Senate itself is unlikely to take any conclusive action against Burris, but rather leave the pressure of home-state politics to bear on a veteran of state politics quickly losing all visible means of support.
Burris, it would seem, has served just long enough to provide the Senate with the 60th vote it needed to pass President Barack Obama's $787-billion economic stimulus bill. The question remains how long he will be able to serve in the seat that Obama left after election to the White House, the seat that Blagojevich allegedly tried to raffle.
Comments
If the Springfield politicians really want to restore public confidence in the Senate seat, Democrats and Republicans would join in asking for Mr. Burris to resign and for Governor Quinn to appoint former Gov. Jim Edgar to the seat for the remaining two years of the term, with the proviso that he would not seek election. Edgar has an unblemished career as a legislator, secretary of state and governor. Illinois needs a breathing period on this seat; Edgar would provide it and help to rid the state of its stench-ridden reputation.
Posted by: Derrick | February 20, 2009 1:17 PM
Another story on Burris? How many does that make now in The Swamp?
Bruce?
Posted by: Bubba ✔ | February 20, 2009 1:37 PM
Burris is surely the most endangered - and stupid - politician in America…
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | February 20, 2009 1:47 PM
Have a good look, ladies and gentleman of America. the State of Sleaze, and its corporate mouthpiece, are calling for a good politician, to step down, because of honest mistakes and oversight and without due process. The State of Sleaze, with its puppets in place, and others, seeing an opportunity to move ahead, have no qualms about their malevolence, but they sure know how to whip up the mob !! There is no stopping the sleaze oozing across state borders, tainting others, as it spreads across the land, all in the name of infotainment, yellow journalism and character assassination !! Even bringing in a man's family's final resting place, to be used against him, hoping to prove how unworthy he is !! Can you stoop any lower than that ? Only, worms and maggots and some in the State of Sleaze, are able to find solace at such decomposing levels !!
" Constitution ? We don't need no stinking Constitution !! We can railroad anybody we want, including you !!" NEWS RELEASE FROM THE STATE OF SLEAZE.
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, America | February 20, 2009 3:28 PM
You had a chance to oppose this travesty when it was unfolding, Quinn, and - like most of the messes of the Blago administration - you chose to stand silent and do nothing. You even changed your position on a special election to help Burris get seated.
You're no reformer, Quinn, you're just another cog in the machine.
Posted by: Jeff | February 20, 2009 4:21 PM
Obama is extraordinary only in his ordinariness. Follow this link.
http://dougsaywhat.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Doug Forbes | February 21, 2009 3:34 PM