Durbin: Let's end this
BURRIS | Swift review of paperwork, panel testimony urged by top senator
At first, U.S. Senate leaders vowed to fight Roland Burris' appointment to their chamber by Gov. Blagojevich. Then, they seemed to warm to letting Burris in.
On Friday, they flip-flopped again, suggesting no action on Burris be taken until after Blagojevich's impeachment trial -- which could take several weeks -- ends.
(AP)
But today -- with Burris continuing to be a major distraction to the economic crisis and other top issues in Washington -- the Senate's No. 2 Democrat, Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), indicated that a problem with Burris' Senate nominating paperwork might not be as big an issue as originally thought and that the full Senate should reach a decision about Burris quickly.
Burris' lawyers will be back in Washington Monday presenting his credentials to the Secretary of the Senate.
"We have to look at the new documents that have been filed by the (Illinois) secretary of state -- they are different than those filed earlier -- and see if they comply with Senate rules," Durbin said on CBS' "Face the Nation."
"Then we're going to have to take a look at [Burris'] testimony before the (Illinois House) impeachment committee. It could take some period of time," Durbin continued. "But I want to do this in a fair and quick way, so that Roland knows his fate. And I hope we can have -- I can have another colleague in the Senate."
Durbin's statements contrasted with ones he made Friday, when he declared that Senate rules were at odds with an Illinois Supreme Court ruling that said it is legal for Burris to fill President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.
Durbin at that time said Burris needed Secretary of State Jesse White's signature on a particular nominating form in order to be seated. The Supreme Court ruled White did not need to sign to the document for Burris to take office.
White has refused to sign the document because he and other politicians believe Blagojevich, who is charged in federal court with trying to sell the Senate seat, should have resigned by now and not appointed anybody to fill Obama's seat.
Durbin today indicated the Senate's opposition to Burris is softening and that the paperwork submitted by Burris might be sufficient.
"After the allegations and wiretaps of Rod Blagojevich, now our impeached governor in Illinois, the majority of certainly all of the Democratic senators said, 'We don't want anything to do with Rod Blagojevich's choices.' And then came his nomination of Roland Burris, and many members stepped back and said, 'Well, let's be fair to this man,' Durbin said.
"I can tell you the papers [Burris] submitted are different than those that have been submitted by virtually every Senator appointed and elected in more than a century. But the question is . . . whether or not they comply with the Senate rules, and that's being decided even as we speak."
Also speaking on "Face the Nation," Burris reiterated that the law is on his side and that he should be seated as quickly as possible. His lawyers have threatened to sue the Senate in U.S. District Court in Washington if his appointment continues to be held up.
If Burris' nominating papers comply with Senate rules, the next step is for Senate Democrats to review his testimony before the Blagojevich impeachment panel, where Burris testified he acted ethically in obtaining the appointment from the embattled governor.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has indicated the full Senate will vote on whether to accept Burris before he is admitted in.
"Under the Constitution and the rules of the Senate, we judge not only the qualifications of a person who comes to this Senate by appointment or election, but also whether the election or appointment process was appropriate," Durbin said. "The Senate has that power to stand in judgment of its members. It's constitutional."