Blago's Senator On His Way to Washington

The controversial Senate appointee Roland Burris is on his way to Washington.  Politico is reporting that Burris, appointed by disgraced Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, will arrive in Washington later this afternoon (January 5).

Burris will go to the Senate tomorrow to try to take his place.  Democratic leaders have said that he will not be seated.  Burris has said that his appointment should not be caught up in the controversy surrounding Blagojevich.  There has also been some pressure from black lawmakers in Illinois to seat Burris, according to CNN.

"Burris meets Wednesday with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Illinois' senior senator, Dick Durbin, who is also the majority whip. While both men have vowed not to seat the 71-year-old former attorney general, his aides are already calling him 'Senator Roland Burris.'

Burris is expected to hold meetings Monday and Tuesday, but his schedule has yet to be released. Tuesday, the 111th Congress opens with the swearing in of the freshmen class, but Burris' name won't be on the list if he does not have the proper credentials signed by Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, according to a senior Democratic aide.

Burris has asked the Illinois Supreme Court to force White to sign his appointment certificate. If he's successful, Democrats will refer his situation to the Senate Rules Committee, which will investigate his appointment before he's officially sworn in – a process that would buy Democrats time on the issue, aides say."

Source: Politico