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* Roland Burris is moving up fast…
Just two weeks ago, Democratic leaders suggested that Roland Burris was tainted as a result of being appointed to the Senate by scandal-tarred Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Now he’s got spots on some top Senate committees and is in the position to help shape legislation on foreign affairs and domestic security.
The Senate approved a resolution Wednesday night setting committee assignments for the 111th Congress, and Burris is now poised to serve on the Armed Services Committee, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and the Committee on Veterans Affairs.
* And he’ll no longer be the most junior Senator very soon…
Democrats Ted Kaufman of Delaware and Roland W. Burris of Illinois won’t be the Senate’s least senior members much longer.
Senate Democrats would like to swear in Democrat Michael Bennet on Thursday to replace Colorado Democrat Ken Salazar , who was confirmed as Interior secretary on Tuesday. Bennet, who was picked by Gov. Bill Ritter Jr. , is likely to be the first senator sworn in by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr .
Then there’s the Clinton replacement fiasco and the Minnesota imbroglio to deal with.
* He’s also the first of the new and potential appointees to have set up a federal campaign account.
* Related…
* Burris opens Senate office, interviewing staff members
* Outrageous appointment
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 10:33 am
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Kind of odd assignments for Burris given his background. I wonder what he requested.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 10:56 am
Not really on point, but…Has there been a case in history when an appointed senator has had the appointing office change hands prior to the next election and what would happen if a (mythical at this point) Gov. Quinn would attempt to appoint someone else?
Comment by McLean Farmboy Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 11:07 am
just my opinion and could be wrong but there is not an empty seat available for Gov. Quinn to fill. Burris is now the senator till the next election.
Comment by prowler Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 11:15 am
“Burris opens Senate office, interviewing staff members”
Potty Mouth is available now.
Comment by sal-says Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 11:23 am
My question to Burris is -
“Will you have enough room on your mausoleum for these additional lines of accomplishments, or are you considering a larger monument in Arlington or Oak Park?”
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 11:33 am
I certainly hope our state senate has more backbone than their federal counterparts. The BND editorial on the appointment of Granburg to head IDNR is spot on. The appointment is wrong in every way. It needs to be rejected.
Comment by Leave a light on George Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 11:35 am
Bobby Rush threatening to call someone a racist paid dividends for Burris. What a disgrace. The Dems are spineless as heck…one wonders if the GOP manages to make them wuss out a lot.
Comment by Segatari Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 11:36 am
President Obama had been serving on the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee in the last Congress. With Bush out of office, a greater percentage of that committees activities are likely to be focused on dealing with postal matters. Nine months of having to be the point man in the Senate on dealing with Chicago’s lousy postal service (which was called by the Postmaster General himself as the worst in the nation) will likely be more than enough for Burris to opt out of being a candidate in the 2010 elections.
Comment by fedup dem Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 11:55 am
Just asking but has a member of Congress ever NOT been named to a “powerful” “choice” committee?
Former Senator Fitzgerald was given Homeland Security and Government Affairs because it’s a backwater where leadership puts disgruntled members to keep them out of the way. The fact that Lieberman, who endorsed McCain, runs the committee should tell you a lot.
Comment by Shore Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 12:38 pm
Well of course he is getting great committee assignments! Since Democrats know that Roland is a self absorbed nut job who will run again in 2010 no matter what, they gotta build thier candidate.
Over the next year Roland Burris will co-sponsor every piece of legislation that saves dolphins, feeds children, and drives old ladies to the grocery store. He wont write any of the legislation, and he wont do much of anything productive, however in 2010 he will be able to run campaign ads trumpeting from the hill tops all the great legislation that he sponsored, and all the committees he sat on!
Comment by Speaking At Will Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 12:51 pm
prowler
My point was realy about the permanance of an appointment. If a new Gov. can replace a sitting Director of Trans.(or CMS or whatever), for example, can he also appoint a different senator? If there has never been a precedent set, why not try? A more general question is, when a transer takes place mid-term, what positions does the new executive have the ability to replace? Will there be ones that will need to be reaffirmed by the GA, as some are done at the begining of a regular transfer of the gov. office?
Comment by McLean Farmboy Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 12:52 pm
The appointment of Rep. Kurt Granberg, D- Carlyle is absolutely disgusting. Can the new Governor get rid of this appointment? Get rid of Sam Flood and his corrupt cronies also.
Comment by this voter will remember Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 4:41 pm