WASHINGTON--Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) makes his first statewide swing next week, with a high profile appearance before the City Club of Chicago next Wednesday. The five-day trip will give the first clue if Burris will suffer any significant backlash from taking the appointment to fill President Obama's senate seat from the tainted and now former Gov. Blagojevich.
The Burris road trip will stop at Peoria, Bloomington, Normal, Rockford, North Chicago and Chicago and is a mix of government and political business. Burris has a campaign-style schedule, meetings with elected officials, civic groups, union leaders, university presidents, and political honchos.
This comes as state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias is ramping up talk of challenging Burris in the 2010 Democratic primary. However, Giannoulias is still raising unregulated state dollars, with a March 12 fund-raiser in Chicago that cannot be spent in a federal race. Gianoulias is contemplating pouring in some of his own fortune into a Senate bid.
Below, release from Burris.....
U.S. Senator Roland W. Burris to Embark on 5-day Illinois Listening Tour
Burris to Meet with Constituents and Community Leaders in Peoria, Bloomington-Normal, Chicago, Rockford and North Chicago
CHICAGO, IL-- Beginning this Monday, February 16th, U.S. Senator Roland W. Burris will travel throughout the Land of Lincoln during an Illinois listening tour.
The five day tour will be Senator Burris' first trip throughout the state as the junior senator of Illinois. Driving everywhere from North Chicago to Peoria, Senator Burris will use these five days as an opportunity to hear directly from constituents and community leaders about their priorities and ideas. Senator Burris plans to visit additional regions of the state in the coming months.
"As the junior senator from Illinois, my priority is to sit down and listen to my constituents and local leaders as they share with me their hopes, priorities, and concerns," said Senator Burris. "This week I am grateful to have the opportunity to travel throughout the great state of Illinois, and hear what is on the minds of everyone from educators and elected officials, to college students and active duty personnel."
Senator Burris' daily activities for the Illinois listening tour are listed below. Further details of the tour will be announced as they become available.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16
Chicago, IL -> Peoria, IL
Chicago, IL
MEETING WITH WEST SIDE ELECTED OFFICIALS
Morning
Chicago, IL
BREAKFAST WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS
Morning
Peoria, IL
SENATOR BURRIS TO SPEAK AT THE ANNUAL PEORIA COUNTY DEMOCRATS' PRESIDENTS' DAY DINNER
ITOO Hall
4900 W Farmington Rd.
Peoria, IL
Event begins: 5:30 PM
Media Coverage: The dinner is open to the press and is being hosted by the Peoria County Democrats. Please contact Billy Halstead, (309) 360-9411, at the Peoria County Democrats for information about covering the event as a member of the press.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17
Peoria, IL -> Bloomington, IL -> Normal, IL
Peoria, IL
MEETING WITH PEORIA MAYOR
Morning
Peoria, IL
VISIT WITH PEORIA AIR NATIONAL GUARD
Morning
Peoria, IL
MEETING WITH PEORIA PUBLIC OFFICIALS
Late morning
Peoria, IL
MEETING WITH REGIONAL UNION LEADERS
Afternoon
Peoria, IL
LUNCH AT KELLEHER'S IRISH PUB
619 S Water Street
Peoria, IL
Lunch: 12:30 PM
Peoria, IL
MEETING WITH BRADLEY UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT
Afternoon
Peoria, IL
MEETING WITH SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOL DISTRICT 150
Afternoon
Bloomington, IL
TOUR OF STATE FARM'S EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER
Afternoon
Normal, IL
MEETING WITH ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT
Afternoon
Normal, IL
MEETING WITH AGRICULTURAL LEADERS
Early evening
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18
Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL
SENATOR BURRIS TO ADDRESS CITY CLUB OF CHICAGO
Maggiano's
111 W. Grand Ave.
Chicago, IL
Event begins: 11:30 AM
Senator Burris begins speaking: 12:30 PM
Media Coverage: The event is open to the press and is being hosted by the City Club of Chicago. Please contact Theresa Aguirre, (312) 283-4322, at the City Club of Chicago for more information about covering the event as a member of the press.
Chicago, IL
MEETING WITH ILLINOIS DIRECTOR OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Afternoon
Chicago, IL
MEETING WITH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Afternoon
Chicago, IL
MEETING WITH MACARTHUR FOUNDATION LEADERS
Afternoon
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19
Rockford, IL
Rockford, IL
MEETING WITH ROCKFORD AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS
Morning
Rockford, IL
MEETING WITH ROCKFORD-AREA MINISTERS
Late morning
Rockford, IL
LUNCH AT TBD LOCATION
Lunch: 1:00 PM
Rockford, IL
MEETING WITH ROCKFORD MAYOR
Afternoon
Rockford, IL
MEETING WITH FREEPORT MAYOR
Afternoon
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20
North Chicago, IL
North Chicago, IL
VISIT TO NORTH CHICAGO VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER
Morning
North Chicago, IL
TOUR OF GREAT LAKES NAVAL TRAINING CENTER
Morning
North Chicago, IL
LUNCH AT HILLERY'S BBQ
1617 14th St.
North Chicago, IL
Lunch: 12:30 PM
###
Upcoming Events
Citizens for Giannoulias at The Joynt
The Joynt
650 N Dearborn St
Chicago, IL
Start Time:
Mar 12 2009 - 6:00pm
Join Alexi and Citizens for Giannoulias for a fundraising event at The Joynt!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Hosted by Alderman Brendan Reilly & Mia Phifer
Sponsors: Stella Black, Alex duBuclet, Tony Romanucci
Host Committee: Julie Bisbee, Ald. Manny Flores, Chris Ganschow, Rashila Grady, Brian Hopkins, Michael McRaith, Rep. Susana Mendoza, Becky Novak, Karen Polet, Jaimey Sexton, Smita Shah, Donnie Storino, Jeff Troupe, Diana Turowski
Lynn Sweet is a columnist and the Washington Bureau Chief for the 
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... ok, good read on where OUR new Senator will be... BUT, why include: Join Alexi and Citizens for Giannoulias for a fundraising event at The Joynt!
.. Im sure in the future you will add Burris' fund raiser at the end of any event Alexi does from now on???
ugh!
WHERE IN THIS SO CALLED LISTENING TOUR DOES MR. BURRIS MEET IN A TOWN HALL ENVIRONMENT WITH ILLINOIS CITIZENS WHO ARE NOT PART OF OUR POLITICAL PIG STYE. NO WHERE ON THE TOUR LIST DOES MR.BURRIS MEET WITH ORDINARY CITIZENS. WHAT A COWARD. WELL MAYBE HE WILL BE INDITED FOR PERJURY BEFOR THIS SHAM OF A 'TOUR' IS OVER FOR HIS FORGETFULLNESS IN HIS IMPEACHMENT TESTIMONY. DID HE LEARN OF SOME TAPED CONVERSATIONS HE HAD WHICH WERE INCRIMINATING WHICH PROMPTED HIM TO NOW REVEAL THAT HE HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS RELATING TO HIS SENAT SEAT? WHAT SCUM WE HAVE FOR SO CALLED LEADERS. NO ONE TRUSTS ANY POLITICIANS ANYMORE. DISGUSTED AND OUTRAGED.
There are no townhall meetings because Burris doesn't care about the people. Besides, he wouldn't be able to answer our questions because all he cares about is a cushy job and a big paycheck for the next two years. He's joined at the hip with all the other corrupt and greedy politicians. He's an old man who isn't going to do anything for us. He's already proven himself to be a liar. There's no way to respect this man. Let's just hope he doesn't win re-election in two years.
Please vote no on health care. I have met you and when all this Blago stuff was going on, I was in your corner. I do not want this information published. You seem like a fair person and I hope you vote in the people's best interest and not along party lines.