Burris joins the Senate

Roland Burris was just sworn into the US Senate by Vice President Dick Cheney, a moment greeted by sustained applause rather than the brickbats during a long-running controversy.

Fellow Democrats initially balked at Burris, because he was appointed by Governor Rod Blagojevich of Illinois, who faces federal corruption charges that include trying to sell the seat -- once occupied by President-elect Barack Obama -- that Burris now holds.

Burris, the only African American in the Senate, says that the economic recovery is his top priority. Within hours, he'll get a vote on a key measure to release the second half of the $700 financial bailout. Obama is asking Congress for the money, but the rescue package is deeply unpopular with the public.