Burris headlines

UPDATE 12:47 PM: Roland Burris throws Pres. Obama 'under the bus' - Political Tracks

UPDATE 12:34 PM: Embattled senator from Illinois fights to fit in - AP

If it were up to Roland Burris, he'd be here to stay. A week of lonely walks, calls for his resignation and cameras following his every move didn't seem to affect the new senator from Illinois. The opposite, actually: Burris spent most of his time digging in.
"He's kept a busy schedule since arriving in Washington, and he's made a point of really going about the business of the Senate," said Burris' spokesman, Jim O'Connor.

City's Clergy Plans Prayer Rally For Burris - WBBM-TV

Some of the state's most prestigious clergy leaders will gather Sunday, March 1 at 5 p.m. at New Covenant Baptist Church, 740 East 77th Street, to conduct a prayer and support service for Sen. Roland Burris, according to a news release.
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Sen. Burris is expected to address the audience at the prayer vigil in his first, formal public remarks since pledging to talk with the media in wake of repeated calls for his resignation.

However, the senator will not engage questions from the press.

Gov. Pat Quinn hasn't talked to Sen. Roland Burris about resigning - Tribune

Gov. Pat Quinn, who is calling on embattled U.S. Sen. Roland Burris to resign, said Saturday he has not spoken to the senator about stepping down.

The new governor, who said he's known Burris for 37 years, suggested that Burris "find a different way to serve and step aside."
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The governor's comments on Burris were made at a Black History Month event on South Michigan Avenue's Motor Row. Quinn honored Julieanna Richardson for leading an effort to create "a living archive" of 5,000 videotaped interviews of a diverse group of African-Americans.

Group gathers in support of Burris - WLS-TV

The defense of United States Sen. Roland Burris grew more vocal Saturday afternoon as a group of both African-American church and community leaders warned those calling for the embattled politician to resign to back off.

"Leave Senator Burris alone," said Pastor Walter Turner of Illinois Faith-based Initiative.
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Saturday's 'Rolling With Roland' rally came as Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan told the state legislature that they could pass a law that moves up the date of the next election for Pres. Barack Obama's former Senate seat. Many state Republicans want a May 26th election -- that would effectively boot Burris from office if he lost.

Sen. Burris Is A Rock, Sen. Burris Is An Island - DCist

"OMG Sen. Roland Burris! Ehh, do we really want this guy coming to bat for us? Maybe!"

That was DCist Sommer's response to seeing Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL) take up the cause of District voting rights on Wednesday. It's weird to have a guy no one likes taking up your cause. And man, do people really not like him.

Burris says state attorney general wrong, hints at running in 2010 - Daily Herald

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has misinterpreted the Constitution and the General Assembly would violate federal law if it ordered a special election to replace Democratic U.S. Sen. Roland Burris, his attorney said Friday.

"I encourage you to take a second look at your analysis before the General Assembly wastes millions of tax dollars on an unlawful election," Burris attorney Timothy W. Wright III said in a letter to Madigan obtained by the Daily Herald.

On Wednesday, Madigan said Burris' appointment to the U.S. Senate is temporary and that the legislature has the power under the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to order a special election to replace him. Burris was appointed to the Senate by impeached ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich in December to fill President Barack Obama's vacated seat.

Roland Burris' attorney warns against special election - Clout Street

“Senator Burris’ position is clear: the General Assembly will violate clearly established federal law if it creates a special election,” Wright said in his letter. “Additionally, a special election could cost taxpayers up to $50 million.”

Wright cited a 1997 U.S. Supreme Court decision involving Louisiana in which justices struck down a 1975 state law in which congressional candidates ran together, regardless of party, a month before the traditional federal election day in November. Voters only cast a ballot for a federal congressional race in Louisiana in November if a run-off was needed because no candidate got a majority of votes cast in October.

Wright maintained that the unanimous court decision, written by Justice David Souter, noted that Congress established the date for all congressional and Senate elections as the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years.