By Dave McKinney, Chris Fusco and Lynn Sweet
Chicago Sun-Times Staff Reporters
Democratic Senate leaders outlined a roadmap Wednesday allowing Roland Burris to fill President elect Barack Obama's Senate seat, despite being appointed by the tainted Gov. Blagojevich.
The hurdles for Burris to clear:
1. Testify today before the Illinois House Blagojevich impeachment panel and clear any doubts about the appointment, made by a governor arrested Dec. 9 for, among other crimes, trying to sell the Obama seat for a job or campaign contributions.
Expected topics:
-$20,296 in cash and sevices that Burris, his lobbying firm and a law firm he's associated with gave to Blagojevich's campaign fund, and whether those contributions might have swayed the governor.
-Burris' lobbying clients, who have given $107,690 to Blagoejvich's campaign fund and were under contract with the state for $3.09 million while Burris represented them.
-A contract that Burris' lobbying/consulting firm had with the state transportation department under Blagojevich -- a deal that paid the firm a total of $294,546.
-$30,000 in lobbying payments to Burris that are linked to a $10 billion pension bond deal Blagojevich orchestrated in 2003.
-The role one of Blagojevich's criminal-defense lawyers, Sam Adam Jr., played in recruiting Burris.
-Burris' statement Wednesday that he "don't have no money." His state government pension totals $118,200 a year.
2. Figuring out if Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White needs to sign the Burris nominating certificate
Burris is asking the Illinois Supreme Court to force White to sign his certificate -- something White refused to do after Blagojevich sent it to him. Without White's signature on the document, Democratic Senate leaders say they won't give Burris the seat
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan argued Wednesday on White's behalf that Burris can't force White to sign anything. But a court filing by her office seemed to indicate that the U.S. Senate could seat Burris regardless of what White does.
"The secretary has performed all of his legal duties and the ultimate determination whether to seat petitioner Burris lies with the U.S. Senate," wrote Brett E. Legner, an assistant attorney general.
The state Supreme Court has offered no timeline for a decision.
3. Approval from the Democratic controlled Senate Rules Committee, not much of a problem unless some damaging information surfaces.
4. Approval by the entire Senate, which will take a three-fifths vote, meaning Burris will need some Republicans on his side.
endit
Burris hurdles to clear to secure Senate seat; testifies today about state contracts
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Lynn Sweet
Lynn Sweet is a columnist and the Washington Bureau Chief for the Chicago Sun-Times.
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The 17th Amendment of our Constitution was ratified for the very reason of what Senator Harry Reid and others have been doing. He has been engaging in the corropt activities of negotiations and making deals with Senator-Designate Burris in order to allow him to hold the seat. This makes him no better than Gov. Blagojevich, and he has only been accused. The 17th Amendment is very clear and simple. If you meet the qualifications set forth, you are in. If after you get in, they find a problem with you, then, and only then, can they move to expel him under Article 1 section 5. I believe it to be that Article.
I am so disgusted with the recent news conference of Senator Reid and Durbin. That is just wrong, wrong, wrong. How can we teach our children right from wrong when these senators are doing what they are? President-Elect Obama vowed to end the good ole boy network in Washington DC and here it is in full bloom.
This whole thing has got me so upset, that the only thing I can think to do is to begin a campaign to have the senators responsible for blocking this appointment expelled from the senate. It may take a while to convince 2/3 of the senate to vote on it, but with enough of us campaigning for this cause, it could happen.