Embattled Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich has named a successor to Barack Obama’s Illinois Senate seat. Blago’s choice is former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris,, calling Burris a “wise and distinguished senior statesman” with “unquestioned integrity.”  And someone who raised a lot of money for the Governor.
The US Senate can choose if it will seat Burris; Harry Reid has thus far stated he would not support ay candidate put forth by the Governor.
This is a mess.
I don’t see how Harry Reid and his Senate colleagues can NOT seat Burris. I don’t see how they can get around the Adam Clayton Powell versus Speaker John McCormack , et al case which held that Article 1, Section 5’s provision for each House to judge the qualifications of its members is limited to the standing qualifications prescribed in the Constitution(age, citizenship and residency).
I suppose they could seat him and then turn around by a 2/3 vote decide to expel him but they are legally required to seat him first. .
I’m surprised that the Ilinois legislature didn’t enact emergency legislation to require an election and then override the expected Blago veto.
For more Blagojevich all the time go to http://www.blagojustice.com
Reid will cave, as he always does. That man wouldn’t know a spine if someone whipped him with it.
Quite apart from that, and though it pains me to admit, NCS is correct. It will be difficult or impossible not to seat the guy for the reasons stated. Also, while several have resigned in disgrace, no sitting senator has been expelled since before the Civil War. The tradition-bound Senate will be hard-pressed to come up with a reason to punish an otherwise reputable person, Burris, who has committed no legal offense nor violated Senate rules.
Any truth to this statement?
“Burris has gone on to receive over $1 million in no-bid, low-effort “consulting†contracts from Illinois State agencies under the Governor’s control as well as a $5000/month “retainer†from Loop Capital, headed by BHO homie Jim Reynolds.”