Roland, Roland, Roland
Keep them doggies, Roland.
So, the latest spectacle our Senate is embarrassing us with is the refusal to seat the junior senator from Illinois, Roland Burris. Like it or not, Blago is still governor of Illinois and has the authority to select a replacement for outgoing senator PEBO. This, while embarrassing, isn’t racism. It’s petty politics.
January 7th, 2009 at 10:30 am
when will the senate grow up and stop playing Monkey in the middle
January 7th, 2009 at 11:56 am
Actually, until the Secretary of State for Illinois signs his appointment form, it isn’t legal.
I support him being appointed to the Senate and I think the man makes a great case.
But without that second signature, it’s a moot point.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
_Jon: “Actually, until the Secretary of State for Illinois signs his appointment form, it isn’t legal.”
That appears to be incorrect:
U.S. Constitution, Amendment 17:
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.
When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.
This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.
We see it states that the Governor shall issue a “writ of election” to fill the vacancy. It also states that the state legislature “may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments”.
Just what did the state legislature do?
Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS) : (10 ILCS 5/25-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 25-8) Sec. 25-8. When a vacancy shall occur in the office of United States Senator from this state, the Governor shall make temporary appointment to fill such vacancy until the next election of representatives in Congress, at which time such vacancy shall be filled by election, and the senator so elected shall take office as soon thereafter as he shall receive his certificate of election.
(Source: Laws 1943, vol. 2, p. 1.)
Neither the U.S. Constitution nor the Illinois statutes require, or even provide for, the Illinois Secretary of State to sign anything. Like it or not Burris is a Senator from Illinois on the Blagojevich’s say so.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
AP announced that the Senate will accept Burris 30min ago.
January 7th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Well good.
It appears I believed the mis-information from Reid about what Roland needed.
And it appears that Reid doesn’t read the US Constitution he serves…. Just like the incoming VP… Or the outgoing VP…
January 7th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
What doggies? Oh. Nevermind.