Posted on 12/30/2008 11:49:22 AM PST by BAW
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) said in a statement this afternoon that the Senate will not seat anyone Gov. Rod Blagojevich chooses to fill Illinois' vacant Senate post, amid word that the governor is set to name former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris.
The statement also is signed by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, who has repeatedly urged Blagojevich not to name a replacement for the seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama. The statement specifically names Burris, but applies to any choice the governor might make.
"This is not about Mr. Burris; it is about the integrity of a governor accused of attempting to sell this United States Senate seat," the statement read. "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."
The decision was made during a 10-minute conference call that included Reid, Durbin and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), as well as representatives of Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). There was little discussion and no dissent in reaching the position, said a Senate aide.
"The goal was to get this statement out before Blagojevich made his announcement," the Senate source said.
Blagojevich, who has sole authority to name a replacement senator, scheduled a 2 p.m. news conference at his downtown Chicago office.
Burris left his downtown consulting office about 1:15 p.m., getting congratulatory hugs from several employees. But Burris refused comment when asked whether he was going to accept the appointment after word that Senate Democratic leadership would not seat him.
Shortly after Obama's Nov. 4 victory, Burris made known his interest in an appointment to the Senate but was never seriously considered, according to Blagojevich insiders. But in the days following Blagojevich's arrest, and despite questions over the taint of a Senate appointment, Burris stepped up his efforts to win the governor's support.
Though he is 71, Burris has said that Obama's replacement should be able to win re-election and he has noted that despite a string of primary losses in races ranging from Chicago mayor to governor and U.S. senator, he's never lost to a Republican.
Blagojevich's criminal defense attorney Ed Genson had said Blagojevich would not name a Senate successor to Obama. The governor had indicated he agreed with other Illinois politicians that the best option might be a special election to fill Obama's seat. But state lawmakers have not taken up the necessary legislation.
Burris has given more than $20,000 to Blagojevich's campaign fund on his own and through his consulting and law firms, state campaign finance records show. Burris' consulting company received about $290,000 in state contracts with the Illinois Department of Transportation a few years ago, according to state comptroller records.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada previously warned Blagojevich, following the governor's Dec. 9 arrest, that Senate Democrats would not seat any appointment the two-term Democratic governor made. Reid's warning was contained in a letter signed by all 50 sitting Democratic senators, including the No. 2 Democrat in Senate leadership, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois.
Federal authorities, citing secret wiretap recordings, allege Blagojevich sought a Cabinet position, an ambassadorship or a high-paying job from the incoming Obama administration in exchange for naming a candidate favored by the president-elect to the vacancy. An internal report by the Obama transition team found no offers of any quid pro quo in conversations held by incoming White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and Blagojevich and the governor's staff regarding the seat.
Burris became the first African-American to win statewide office in 1978, when he won the first of his three terms as comptroller. But Burris repeatedly stalled in his quest for bigger political office. He failed in three consecutive runs for governor--1994, 1998 and 2002, when he ran against Blagojevich--in the Democratic primaries.
Burris, an attorney in private practice, could not be reached for comment at his home today.
A special state House committee is weighing whether to recommend impeaching Blagojevich, and a leading member of the panel today called the news "incredibly ill-advised."
Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) said he believed his colleagues on the panel "will take the position that the timing is so wrong as to put a cloud over the appointment."
"It certainly wouldn't be a legal cloud," Lang said. "It would be more of a political cloud."
Rep. Jim Durkin, the Republican spokesman on the impeachment panel, said he is drafting a letter to Burris calling for him to reject the appointment.
"I think the governor can do what he wants, but I think that Roland Burris should not accept it," Durkin said. "He left government under a good standing, and this is not a way to re-enter it. If he does accept it, I will take any means necessary to have him testify before the special (impeachment) committee."
Durkin, citing the federal probe into Blagojevich's alleged attempt to sell the Senate seat, said the matter is at the heart of the impeachment investigation and the federal criminal charges against the governor. Durkin said he wants to know when Burris talked to the governor or any of his aides about the Senate appointment, what was discussed and what, if any, material was submitted.
"If he does accept this," Durkin said, "I want to know the circumstances on which his name rose to the top in the last 24 hours."
Durkin said he knew of nothing that Burris had done improper, noting "he's a good and decent man."
“It’s a mess, and I’m loving every minute of it!”
The blood is in the water and the media will soon be engaged in a massive feeding frenzy.
Congressmen Bobby Rush talking now about how horrible it would be for a Senator not to want to seat Burris.
Who is going to vote against the black guy??? LOL
Did it. Learned something new. Thanks!
I cannot believe this newsconference and how in the heck did Rush get elected, he can barely speak a cojent sentence and threatening that this belongs to a black man.... ugh!
Yah, but can Burris hail a cab?
Harry doesn’t have the authority nor does the RAT caucus. I think Blago has a checkmate here based on the Illinois Statute that gives him the appointment authority in keeping with Amendment 17. Harry is going to have to muster a 2/3 roll call to get this done and expel the pick. IMHO and IANL.
Phone: (202) 225-2201
I already called Maxine Waters’ office and told them that, no matter what Blagojevich is accused of doing, Roland Burris is a good man and a good choice. I hope she will fight to get him seated.
I’m going out to get more popcorn.
So Burris is black. Big Deal! What are blacks going to do...start voting republican in protest? God knows how many favors and how much in “campaign contributions” will be changing hands over the next few days. The founders are spinning like tops, watching the thugs who have taken over their nation.
Rush is one of the few people that Obama has actually had to run a campaign against, and its clear now why Obama won.
Congressman Rush did a great job and laid it out really clear - it is about race. No one in their right mind would challenge it. Sen Reid doesn't have squat to stand on.
I love it.
But see Amendment XVII and Powell v. somebody. The gist is the Amendment is more specific and the court case says neither House can change the rules after the fact. Blago made the appointment and unless Harry can dust off a rule that allows him or a simple majority to say no, the must seat the guy and then expel him. They can’t make a new qualification and retroactively apply it. All this in the face of innocent until proven guilty. And the reality is that the Illinois Constitution gives the Supreme Court of Illinois the authority to temporarily pull Blago’s powers. They refused to do that so SCOTUS must take note that Illinois has refused to intervene. That’s a point Blago’s side will be sure to argue. This is a brilliant move by Blago - a wharf rat if I ever saw one! (IANL)
Popping popcorn :-)
Oh, and thanks again Illinois. The fools you keep electing are playing with not only your lives and your dimes but they are now putting my family in danger as they play their silly and foolish games for personal power.
Memo
To: Harry Reid
Fr: Robert Byrd
Re: That Illinois Boy
Senator, I applaud your moral position on the unacceptability of seating the appointed replacement of one boy, with another boy, from Illinois.
Say, you know that rhymes if you say it real fast Harry?
‘The replacement of one boy,
with another boy,
from Illinois,
Burma Shave’
Harry, I have some extra sheets for you if you need them.
Cordially and in fellowship,
Your Senatorial Grand Kleagle, I remain
Robert Byrd of West By-God Virginia
It would have been even more fun if Jesse Jackson Jr. had been named the pick today...
Hey, he bought that seat fair and square!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.