Scandal-tarred Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich this afternoon appointed 71-year-old former
Illinois attorney general Roland Burris to President-elect Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat.
Burris accepted the appointment at a joint news conference with Blagojevich in Chicago, asking “the people of Illinois to place the same trust in me that they have in the past.”
For biographical info on Burris, see here, here, and here.
According to this source, Burris is a Baptist.
If seated, Roland Burris would become the ninth Baptist in the current United States Senate and the 5th Baptist from the state of Illinois in the 111th Congress.
In the next few days, I will post a comprehensive survey article of the Baptists in the 111th Congress and their church membership information.
Roland Burris should be seated as Senator in the US Senate! What ever we may think of the Gov. we should abide by the Illinois and US. Constitution. In the appointment of Burris is within the laws of this country, lets not be like BUSH’s constitution “I AM KING GEORGE”!
The IL Sec. of State’s threat not to process this appointment is not legal according to the IL Constitution. However, the U.S. Constitution allows the U.S. Senators to refuse Burris’ the seat and they probably will–although the fact that he is Africann-American will make this difficult–98 old white men against diversity?
I am not sure that Burris was smart to pursue this appointment AFTER Blago had a criminal complaint by a U.S. Attorney on the matter. It taints the appointment and probably makes it difficult for Burris to think about retaining the seat in ’10.
The only way to prevent the Senate from this embarrassment would be if the IL Legislature speeds up the impeachment process and removes Blago so that Lt. Gov. Quinn could appoint.
I sincerely hope we have 100 Senators before the end of January. Senate Repubs. are threatening not to seat Al Franken even if certified by the State of MN as long as Coleman has outstanding lawsuits on the matter.
Hillay is refusing to resign her NY seat until confirmed as Sec. of State by the Senate and Gov. Patterson has said he won’t appoint a replacement until then. So, will she rush from confirmation hearings to budget votes?
The only open seat going according to a CALM and ORDERLY proceeding is Gov. Ritter (D-CO)’s appointment process for Sen. Ken Salazar’s replacement. Sheesh!
Apparently, Burris tried to have an innocent man executed while he was IL state atty gen. because he was running for governor! Nice.
See the story here: http://www.propublica.org/article/in-90s-burris-sought-death-penalty-for-innocent-man-1231
As of this afternoon, Burris is a U.S. Senator. So, you’ll need to update your 111th Congress chart to include TWO Democratic Baptist senators! (I’m pulling for Meeks in FL in ’10 bringing that to 3.)