by Mark Silva
The plot thickens for Sen. Roland Burris, appointed to the Senate from Illinois by the former, impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich, for whom Burris tried to raise campaign funds.
Burris' son landed a $75,000-a-year state job under Blagojevich five months ago, our competitors at the Chicago Sun-Times report. Not just any state job: A lawyer's job at the state housing authority - for someone whose own home has gone into foreclosure.
How's this for a lede:
"The son of embattled Sen. Roland Burris is a federal tax deadbeat who landed a $75,000-a-year state job under former Gov. Rod Blagojevich five months ago, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.
"Blagojevich's administration hired Roland W. Burris II as a senior counsel for the state's housing authority Sept. 10 -- about six weeks after the Internal Revenue Service slapped a $34,163 tax lien on Burris II and three weeks after a mortgage company filed a foreclosure suit on his South Side house.
A nod to Chris Fusco, Tim Novak and Dave McKinney for a story that is sure to drive that steamroller known as the Burris-must-quit train. Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has called on the senator to resign, senior Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois has suggested that he quit, too. And state Att'y Gen. Lisa Madigan says it's OK to hold a special election.
At least the senator's son has a job.
Comments
More Democratic corruption-
$75,000 for doing WHAT?
Posted by: Inky | February 26, 2009 11:42 AM
Do ANY Democrats pay their taxes?
Posted by: HopeNChange | February 26, 2009 11:56 AM
The question is not if Burris Jr. got a State job. As a relative of an Illinois Politician he is entitled to a taxpayer position for life just like Madigan, Stroger, Lipinski, Hynes, etc.
The question is, "Does he have to show up?"
City ghost payrollers don't have to show up so if Jr. actually does something for his pay, I believe he is being descriminated against.
The only fair solution is to put Jr. on daddy's paid staff.
For a signing bonus the Senator should pay off the 35k IRS judgement and allow Jr. to make his mortgage payments to the Re-elect Burris committee. The Burris boys sticking it to us and leaving only small "change".
Posted by: Bushwacker | February 26, 2009 12:12 PM
You "washington bureau" guys at all embarassed about getting scooped (again)?
Posted by: Jeff | February 26, 2009 1:44 PM
How is Obama any better? His wife's pay was TRIPLED when he got the U of Chicago Hospital she worked at a large earmark in the US Senate.
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And, although he now treats him like a leper, Obama planned Blago's '04 victory with Rahm, & campaigned for him enthusiastically. - Obama later bought that nice house with help from felon Tony Rezko... and agent Patti Blago. Interestingly, she was the agent on many of Rezko's real-estate transactions that appear to be pay-to-play payoffs.
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Blago's staff were obviously talking to someone from Team Obama, on the FBI tapes they said Obama could provide seats on corporate boards for Patti Blago if Jarrett was appointed to the Senate seat... and that Obama had to "suck it up" for a couple years. Does that mean temporarily refrain from illegal or unethical activities? That's sure what it sounds like.
-And Obama said he "never talked" to Blago about the seat, when 3 news outlets and Axelrod stated that he met with Blago the day after the election, Nov 5th.
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The whole thing stinks like trash-truck juice... Obama has more explaining to do than Burris- if the press would just stop kissing his posterior for a minute.
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http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Reaganite Republican | February 26, 2009 6:02 PM
Sure guys; Burris should quit..... the day Al Franken is seated. He won a real election after all. Let's make a deal.
Posted by: Flo | February 26, 2009 8:25 PM
Logically, where is the "quid pro quo", the "pay to play"?
Burris paid Blago to hire his son?
No, that doesn't sound right.
What's the angle, so far as trying to get the senate seat for Lisa or JJJ or Rahm?
If you're going to argue that every political figure who has a child or nephew or niece in a state job of some sort, should resign, there wouldn't be anyone left in office to speak of.
Posted by: ornery | February 26, 2009 9:16 PM
I live way up the coast of Maine,and, I recall a mention of Burris' son getting a 'nice' job from the state some months ago. Why did it take this long for some of the details to surface?
Posted by: joan m | February 27, 2009 7:26 AM
The fat lady has not sung yet... I predict that when it's all over B. Hussein Obama will be the "first" Democrat to be impeached... this century... What he did in Chicago still has not made the front pages...
Cheers!
Posted by: boria | February 27, 2009 7:58 AM