The Daily Background
| [Updated] Reports: Blago to break pledge, appoint somebody
by Arlen Parsa
So, apparently Blagojevich is going to (try to) appoint Roland Burris, the former IL state attorney general to serve out the last two years of Obama’s old Senate seat. Burris, 71 and the first African American to win statewide office in Illinois, tried but failed to be elected to the seat in 1984 when he didn’t win the Democratic primary. The intrepid Lynn Sweet reports however that Burris’ appointment is hardly a sealed deal:
However, Burris will face resistance from the Senate Democrats who control the chamber in seating him, I’ve just been told by Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senate Leader Harry Reid (D-Nv.).
Reid had said when the Blagojevich scandal broke earlier this month he would ask the Senate not to seat any Blagojevich appointee, in order to make sure the seat is free of taint. All the Senate Democrats concurred. Manley said Reid’s position has not changed.
Burris may also face opposition here in Illinois, as the state legislators down in Springfield probably won’t like Blagojevich going back on his pledge of a week ago that he wouldn’t appoint anyone in order to save the seat from appearing tainted. And they’ve already moved forward with legislation that would allow a special election in lieu of his promise.
Also– side note– I wonder how long it took the Chicago Sun-Times to register the domain BlagoBusted.com? Frankly, I wouldn’t be all that surprised if they just had that one lying around waiting for use.
Update: More…
The Democratic governor can announce Burris as his pick, but it may be an empty gesture. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, who must certify the appointment, said Tuesday he will not do so. And U.S. Senate leaders reiterated that they wouldn’t accept anyone appointed by Blagojevich, who was arrested Dec. 9 on federal corruption charges.
In a letter released Tuesday afternoon, Senate Democrats maintained that Blagojevich should not make the appointment because it is unfair to Burris, unfair to the people of Illinois and ultimately won’t stand.
“It is truly regrettable that despite requests from all 50 Democratic Senators and public officials throughout Illinois, Gov. Blagojevich would take the imprudent step of appointing someone to the United States Senate who would serve under a shadow and be plagued by questions of impropriety,” the statement said.
“Under these circumstances, anyone appointed by Gov. Blagojevich cannot be an effective representative of the people of Illinois and, as we have said, will not be seated by the Democratic Caucus.”
[…] that he might simply refuse to do so. Meanwhile, national Senate Dems are saying they’re going to refuse to seat him if he gets as far as the US Senate, although it’s a bit murky as to whether they can actually […]