Congress: Sen. Roland Burris

Posted: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 9:11 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Congress

“Senate Democratic leaders said Monday that Roland W. Burris would be seated as the new senator from Illinois, resolving a conflict that had drawn the Senate into a corruption scandal surrounding Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich,” the New York Times writes. “After a review of a new letter from the Illinois secretary of state affirming Mr. Burris’s appointment, the two top Senate Democrats -- Harry Reid of Nevada and Richard J. Durbin of Illinois -- said his paperwork now complied with Senate rules.”

More: “Senate officials said they were planning to swear in Mr. Burris this week, a remarkable turn of events considering the Democrats’ previous insistence that he would not be seated.”

Roll Call wonders whether Reid's decision to seat Roland Burris will calm his stormy relationship with the Congressional Black Caucus.

Obama has accepted an invitation to speak with House Republicans after he's inaugurated.

Whoa. The debate over the stimulus has sparked a showdown in South Carolina, where Republican Gov. Mark Sanford has said he doesn't want federal funds for the state. That prompted Rep. James Clyburn to respond that " ‘[Sanford] happens to be a millionaire. He may not need help for the plantation his family owns, but the people whose grandparents and great-grandparents worked those plantations need the help’ in the form of federal money." The governor has countered that the South Carolina congressman is "playing the race card."

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Comments

I was thinking, could we keep Burris, and get rid of Reid and Durbin?

Chuckie T., Illinois (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 9:38 AM)

First Read: The debate over the stimulus has sparked a showdown in South Carolina, where Republican Gov. Mark Sanford has said he doesn't want federal funds for the state. That prompted Rep. James Clyburn to respond that " ‘[Sanford] happens to be a millionaire. He may not need help for the plantation his family owns, but the people whose grandparents and great-grandparents worked those plantations need the help’

What the h*ll is this supposed to mean!?! What kind of personal attacks and racial politics is Clyburn dragging into this conversation? Governor Sanford is saying he can manage his state without federal funds. To most of us, most of us normal people, that would be regarded as good news. To Clyburn though, it's a class issue, and a racial issue? We just went through a huge racial issue with Burris, now Clyburn looks like he wants the race card spotlight for a while.

HT Robbins, SC (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 9:43 AM)

LET'S BE REAL. BURRIS WON BECAUSE HE "PLAYED THE RACE CARD!" IF HE HAD BEEN A NON-BLACK, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN KEPT OUT OF THE SENATE. WE WILL SEE MORE OF THE "PLAYING OF THE RACE CARD" WITH OBAMA AS PRESIDENT.

BURRIS WON BECAUSE HE "PLAYED THE RACE CARD!" (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 10:19 AM)

As an Illinois resident and hard-core Democratic voter, I have been sickened by the whole Blago/Burris circus. Go ahead and seat Roland Burris, but I hope that he is only a caretaker until the 2010 elections. Because of the way he was chosen (and the fact that he is just another political hack - Illinois deserves better, I WILL NOT vote for him if he is the Democratic nominee in 2010! I don't care if the Repugnant is the most extreme right-wing-nut. I will hold my nose and vote for whomever that person is rather than Burris. Maybe my one small act might send a small message. As practically a straight ticket Democrat for over 30 years, I do not like the way this whole thing has been handled, and I didn't like having this candidate (regardless of his strengths and weaknesses) shoved down my throat. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of Illinois Democrats feel this way, also.

TB Chicago, IL (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 10:31 AM)

I used to think Roland Burris was a good man; I no longer think that. The way he received his Senate appointment has shown me the man's true colors. He has aligned himself with Blagojevich; that has done it for me! I will NOT vote for him if he runs in 2010! I don't care who is running against him; Roland Burris will NOT get my vote!

EJ, Central, IL (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 12:50 PM)

After the meeting between Harry Reid & Roland Burris last week, Senator Reid's remarks included a reference to Burris' extensive credentials. Specifically, Senator Reid seemed quite impressed that Burris had 2 PhDs as well as 2 law degrees. I have checked every online biography I could find, and cannot find any reference to any advanced degrees or multiple law degrees for Mr. Burris. Does anyone have more details on his educational background?

Donna Probasco (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 3:07 PM)

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