Governor of Illinois Appoints Roland Burris to U.S. Senate

The saga of the defiant Illinois Governor continues, with the Press and the American public watching with great interest.

CHICAGO (Catholic Online) - "The people of Illinois are entitled to have two United States senators represent them in Washington D.C.... As governor I am required to make this appointment." With those words, Governor Rod Blagojevich once again looked confidently into the cameras and surprised many observers.

He announced that as Governor of Illinois he was appointing Roland Burris, the former Attorney General of the State of Illinois, to fill the unexpired term of the President Elect, Barack Obama.The fall out and reaction began immediately at the State and National level.

Roland Burris stood next to him as the Governor asked the people of the State not to allow the allegations against him to "taint this good and honest man." The nominee said he was eager and ready to get to work in Washington.

The saga of the defiant Illinois Governor continues, with the Press and the American public watching with great interest. Only a day after his lawyer had indicated that his client would not make such an appointment, he did.What is clear is that the Governor plays out of his own handbook and the surprises seem to just keep coming.

The Illinois Secretary of State is now obligated by Statute to certify the appointment.However, he has indicated to the Press that he will not do so. The question which is looming is on what grounds in the State law is he basing his decision to not fulfill his statutory obligation? None was disclosed and there appears to be none in the Statute in question.

Expect some form of Court proceeding, perhaps a petition for a "Writ of Mandamus", wherein the Court is asked to order the Secretary to issue the certification. There appears to be no ground for such a refusal under Illinois law. The Governor, even if he has a cloud over his exercise of office pending the federal corruption investigation he faces, still has the power to make such an appointment.

Governor Rod Blagojevich has faced continued calls for his resignation and the Illinois House has begun impeachment proceedings to remove him from office. The State's Attorney General unsuccessfully sought his removal in a Court proceeding.However, he is still the Governor of Illinois and today he proved his willingness to exercise the authority of that office no matter what anyone else may think or say.

Democratic leaders in the United States Senate issued a statement claiming that the appointment "...will ultimately not stand.Under these circumstances," the statement continues, "anyone appointed by Gov. Blagojevich cannot be an effective representative of the people of Illinois and, as we have said, will not be seated by the Democratic Caucus."

Secret Archives of the Saints, Subscribe Today

Roland Burris is 71 years old and was the first African American to be elected to a Statewide office in Illinois. As to whether he will soon be the Senator from Illinois seated in the chambers in Washington, D.C., stay tuned.

---

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'