Grendel
01-07-2009, 08:24 PM
Senate Leaders Lay Out Procedures for Burris to Be Seated
By Perry Bacon Jr.
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 7, 2009; 3:20 PM
Senate Democratic leaders today laid out a path for former Illinois attorney general Roland Burris to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the Senate, softening their initial ardent opposition to Burris's appointment last week.
After an hour-long meeting with Burris on Capitol Hill, Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Majority Whip Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) told reporters that they would consider Burris's appointment if it is certified by the Illinois secretary of state and if Burris testifies successfully before legislators in Illinois who are considering the impeachment of Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), who is accused of corruption charges, including looking to sell Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder.
"Once that's done, we'll be in a position to see what we're going to do," said Reid, who last week had declared any appointment that Blagojevich made would be "tainted."
In a news conference this morning, Obama said he would accept Burris as his replacement in the Senate.
"This is a Senate matter. But I know Roland Burris, obviously; he's from my home state. I think he's a fine public servant. If he gets seated then I'm going to work with Roland Burris, just like I work with all the other senators," Obama said at a press conference at his transition headquarters.
Burris, 71, has challenged the refusal of Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White to sign his certificate of appointment, and the Illinois Supreme Court is expected to rule in a few days. The would-be senator, who did not speak to reporters immediately after the meeting, will meet tomorrow with the 21-person committee in the Illinois House considering Blagojevich's impeachment.
Reid said that if Burris was successful in those proceedings in Illinois, the Senate Rules and Administration Committee would investigate the appointment, and then the full Senate would vote on whether to accept Burris. Democratic aides had suggested last week an investigation in the Rules committee would be used to slow down Burris' appointment, but the current chairman of the Rules Committee, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Cal.), said yesterday she felt Burris should get the seat.
Several members of the Congressional Black Caucus, a group of House members, are also pushing for the appointment. House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), one of the most influential black members of Congress, said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" show that "I think he will be seated."
In their comments today, Senate Democrats showed a markedly different tone than yesterday, when Burris's credentials were rejected by Senate officials, leaving Burris to hold a press conference outside of the Capitol in the rain. Reid welcomed Burris into his office, allowed reporters to take pictures of the two and at the press conference praised him as "very engaging."
"He presents himself very well," Reid said.
Burris would replace Obama as the Senate's only black member, and Reid and Durbin took pains to assuage any racial tension on this issue. Both said that in the meeting Burris had said his race had nothing to do with the controversy, and Durbin noted that White is also African-American.
In his own press conference at a hotel a few blocks from Capitol Hill later, a beaming Burris praised the Democratic leaders he has been battling for a week.
He said Senate leaders had signaled he would be allowed to take the seat and without any conditions, such as a promise that he not seek reelection in 2010.
"I'm very pleased," he told reporters. "This afternoon, I'm very happy."
Burris said he would testify in front of Illinois House members tomorrow and would demonstrate that his appointment had been made without impropriety.
"There's certainly no pay-for-play involved because I don't have any money," he joked.New leadership is desperately needed, here.
It's a shame Durbin and Reid couldn't resist the urge to make idle threats about something that was such a non-starter. After the way he's conducted himself, did they honestly think he'd say, "Oh well, I better not make the appointment, his rejection could embarrass me?"
As odious as this prospect may be to everyone else on the outside, the law is on Blago's side.
By Perry Bacon Jr.
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 7, 2009; 3:20 PM
Senate Democratic leaders today laid out a path for former Illinois attorney general Roland Burris to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the Senate, softening their initial ardent opposition to Burris's appointment last week.
After an hour-long meeting with Burris on Capitol Hill, Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Majority Whip Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) told reporters that they would consider Burris's appointment if it is certified by the Illinois secretary of state and if Burris testifies successfully before legislators in Illinois who are considering the impeachment of Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), who is accused of corruption charges, including looking to sell Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder.
"Once that's done, we'll be in a position to see what we're going to do," said Reid, who last week had declared any appointment that Blagojevich made would be "tainted."
In a news conference this morning, Obama said he would accept Burris as his replacement in the Senate.
"This is a Senate matter. But I know Roland Burris, obviously; he's from my home state. I think he's a fine public servant. If he gets seated then I'm going to work with Roland Burris, just like I work with all the other senators," Obama said at a press conference at his transition headquarters.
Burris, 71, has challenged the refusal of Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White to sign his certificate of appointment, and the Illinois Supreme Court is expected to rule in a few days. The would-be senator, who did not speak to reporters immediately after the meeting, will meet tomorrow with the 21-person committee in the Illinois House considering Blagojevich's impeachment.
Reid said that if Burris was successful in those proceedings in Illinois, the Senate Rules and Administration Committee would investigate the appointment, and then the full Senate would vote on whether to accept Burris. Democratic aides had suggested last week an investigation in the Rules committee would be used to slow down Burris' appointment, but the current chairman of the Rules Committee, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Cal.), said yesterday she felt Burris should get the seat.
Several members of the Congressional Black Caucus, a group of House members, are also pushing for the appointment. House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), one of the most influential black members of Congress, said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" show that "I think he will be seated."
In their comments today, Senate Democrats showed a markedly different tone than yesterday, when Burris's credentials were rejected by Senate officials, leaving Burris to hold a press conference outside of the Capitol in the rain. Reid welcomed Burris into his office, allowed reporters to take pictures of the two and at the press conference praised him as "very engaging."
"He presents himself very well," Reid said.
Burris would replace Obama as the Senate's only black member, and Reid and Durbin took pains to assuage any racial tension on this issue. Both said that in the meeting Burris had said his race had nothing to do with the controversy, and Durbin noted that White is also African-American.
In his own press conference at a hotel a few blocks from Capitol Hill later, a beaming Burris praised the Democratic leaders he has been battling for a week.
He said Senate leaders had signaled he would be allowed to take the seat and without any conditions, such as a promise that he not seek reelection in 2010.
"I'm very pleased," he told reporters. "This afternoon, I'm very happy."
Burris said he would testify in front of Illinois House members tomorrow and would demonstrate that his appointment had been made without impropriety.
"There's certainly no pay-for-play involved because I don't have any money," he joked.New leadership is desperately needed, here.
It's a shame Durbin and Reid couldn't resist the urge to make idle threats about something that was such a non-starter. After the way he's conducted himself, did they honestly think he'd say, "Oh well, I better not make the appointment, his rejection could embarrass me?"
As odious as this prospect may be to everyone else on the outside, the law is on Blago's side.