< Back to Front Page Text size – +

More steps toward Senate showdown

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor January 5, 2009 01:50 PM

In the latest salvos in a looming showdown, Roland Burris is taking off for Washington this afternoon even as the US Senate took an official step toward blocking him from taking his seat.

Sparring with reporters at an airport news conference before boarding a plane to Washington, Burris declared that he is the duly appointed junior senator from Illinois, despite the allegations surrounding the man who appointed him, Governor Rod Blagojevich, who has been charged with trying to sell the seat, vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

But the secretary of the US Senate refused today to accept a certificate on Burris's appointment because while it had Blagojevich's signature, it lacked the one of Illinois secretary of state Jesse White, who refused to sign it.

Burris told reporters that he is still "hoping and praying" that a deal will be worked out with Democratic leaders in the Senate, who thus far have insisted they will not allow him to join their body.

Meanwhile, a federal judge today gave prosecutors three more months to obtain a corruption indictment against Blagojevich, saying the complexity of the case against him makes it "unreasonable" to expect the indictment sooner, the Associated Press reports.

Chief Judge James F. Holderman's extended the deadline until April 7. It would have run out Wednesday.

Also today, the AP says, Blagojevich set a special election April 7 to fill the congressional seat Rahm Emanuel is vacating to become Obama's chief of staff. The primary will be March 3.

  • CommentComment
  • EmailEmail
» Back to Front Page
.

Under the circumstances an appointment by Blagojevich has no currency. I do not see any other option than an election unless Blagojevich is removed from office in the next few weeks. I am sorry to say that I find government to be dysfunctional as it now stands. The issue is not confined to government or to any party.

For Burris to become a Senator under these circumstances the Senate would have to vet him. That is more of an executive function than a legislative one. I think that in order to run for a new office a candidate should resign from the old office. Then an election can be held for the candidates old office in a timely manor.

Posted by Ron M January 5, 09 04:21 PM
.

What was the high bid?

Posted by 57-states January 5, 09 04:50 PM
.

Let me see... Blagojevich tried to sell the senate seat, and the "new senator" was a regular contributor to the governor's campaigns, yet he thinks his appointment should be seen as legitimate? Obviously neither one of them grasps the concept of "appearance of impropriety". If Burris had any sense he'd step back until the Blagojevich issue is settled and a legitimate entity can make the appointment.

Posted by Dot January 5, 09 08:37 PM
add your comment *(If you put a URL in your comment, it must be relevant )
Required
Required (will not be published)

This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.

About Political Intelligence

Reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors about the Obama administration, the Massachusetts congressional delegation, and other national political happenings.
see all Globe blogs

News from the Washington Bureau

Senators voice optimism on public option

WASHINGTON - Buoyed by their weekend victory on a vote beginning the health care debate, several Senate Democrats expressed optimism yesterday they could find a way to keep a government-run insurance plan in the sweeping bill. (Globe Staff, 11/23/09)

Health overhaul narrowly advances

The Senate narrowly overcame the first of two critical hurdles to passing sweeping health care legislation last night, mustering the minimum of 60 votes required to begin debate on the bill and opening a volatile floor fight likely to last weeks. (Globe Staff 11/22/09)

Latinos, blacks take harder hit amid recession

Latinos and African-Americans in Massachusetts and across the country are facing high unemployment rates that could spiral to levels not seen in decades as the jobless economic recovery drags on, analysts and urban community advocates say. (Globe Staff, 11/21/09)

Some lawmakers push back Catholic church on health care bill

Representative Louise Slaughter has a consistent record advocating abortion rights. So the New York Democrat was stunned recently to receive, for the first time, a letter from a Catholic diocese in western New York, demanding that she explain her vote this month against a health care amendment prohibiting insurance companies from paying for abortions. (Globe Staff, 11/21/09)

Support wanes for curbs on credit-card interest rates

Efforts in Congress to cap credit-card interest rates are faltering because of opposition from Democrats and a lack of specific support from the White House, despite growing consumer outrage over a rush by banks to impose rates as high as 30 percent. (Globe Staff, 11/19/09)

Obama domestic agenda largely a one-party effort

Despite early pleas for bipartisanship, President Obama is forging ahead with his domestic agenda with a largely single-party strategy, unable to corral more than a handful of Republicans on a wide range of major legislation before Congress. (Globe Staff, 11/17/09)

Beirut attack victims’ families face new hurdle

On Veterans Day, Christine Devlin stood in the cold in Westwood for the unveiling of a new memorial to local soldiers lost overseas, including her son Michael, one of the 241 servicemen killed in the bombing of the US Marine barracks in Lebanon in 1983. (Globe Staff, 11/14/09)

Powerful health care groups offer optimism on overhaul

Two leading health care interest groups, representing insurers and big business, struck a more conciliatory, even optimistic tone on the health care overhaul yesterday, emphasizing their support of the overall goal of increasing coverage and containing costs even as they warned that the wrong bill could cause great harm. (Globe Staff, 11/13/09)

FHA runs low on cash, fueling bailout concerns

The Federal Housing Administration, which propped up the collapsing housing market last year, acknowledged yesterday that it has drained its cash reserves to dangerously low levels, heightening concerns that it might need a taxpayer bailout. (Globe Staff, 11/13/09)

Afghanistan wary of US plan to send more advisers

Afghan officials have begun to push back from the Obama administration's plans to send hundreds of advisers to the country, complaining the Americans are often overpaid, underqualified, and unfamiliar with the culture of the country. (Globe Staff, 11/12/09)
archives