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Burris May Have Necessary Document to Become Senator
Produced by Mike Rhee on Friday, January 09, 2009
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Jesse White (WBEZ/Mike Rhee) |
Roland Burris now may have what he needs to be seated as a U.S. Senator. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White's office Friday certified a copy of a letter of appointment from Governor Rod Blagojevich. Dave Drucker is a spokesperson for White. He says Burris and his attorneys may use the certification to get him into the Senate.
DRUCKER: I think that's a distinct possibility, I would assume that they would seek to do that. But again I have to defer to how they're going to pursue it.
Jesse White has refused to sign any appointment letter from Blagojevich, who faces federal corruption charges. But White's signature does appear on a separate document that says the appointment letter was filed with his office. Illinois Senior Senator Dick Durbin told Chicago Public Radio that may be enough for Burris to be seated in the Senate. Senate Democrats, including Durbin, have said they won't accept Burris's appointment without a signature from the Illinois Secretary of State. A statement late Friday said Senate staff "are advising Senate leadership as we consider a way forward."
Related: Burris' Appointment Letter
Related: Signed Certificate from Sec. of State's Office
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Stacy, Foster Park // Sunday, January 11, 2009 @ 11:13 AM
Burris KNEW already that White wasn't going to sign any of corrupt Blago's appointees; Burris KNEW that the Senate wasn't going to accept ANY Senator without the Secretary of State; that has been their policy for decades, and they DON'T HAVE to change it just because a guy comes along and wants to act all surprised about all these technicalities he's facing. ANYONE who's dumb enough to accept that position from someone like Blago, when EVERYBODY knows these obstacles would happen to WHOEVER accepted it, deserves to be treated this way. Stupid!
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Peter, Arlington Heights // Sunday, January 11, 2009 @ 5:03 PM
Stacy,
Jesse White is not the Governor. Blago is. And I would not expect the Secretary of State to usurp the powers of a sitting executive. If the Senate lets him do so, the Senate is permitting an injustice.
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Mike, San Diego // Sunday, January 11, 2009 @ 5:20 PM
I think Burris has been proceeding in exactly the correct way on this. The governor has not been indicted, and the Illinois house was slow to impeach him, and he is, after all, still the governor. As such, he has the power of appointment, and other entities are legally obligated to defer to his official actions, as long as they are not corrupt. Blago's sleazy politics notwithstanding, it looks like Burris will succeed in finessing the situation, and will soon represent Illinois in the US Senate. Next big question: will the Repub candidate win the special election in 2010?
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