Opposition to Burris Hangs on Thin Reid

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, outgoing chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, has had enough. Feinstein wants the Senate to seat Roland Burris:

The question is really one, in my view, of law.

Does the governor have the power, under law, to make the appointment? And the answer is yes. Is the governor discredited? The answer is yes. Does that affect his appointment power? The answer is no, until certain things happen.

Feinstein’s stance was echoed by the 41-member Congressional Black Caucus. During an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn said: 

I think he’s duly qualified. I think the process -- you know, when we talk about him being tainted, the legislature in Illinois will still be passing laws, and the governor will be signing them. I don’t understand how this process can be tainted when the legislative process going forward in Illinois will not be tainted with this governor’s signature. Let us go ahead and get the business of the nation under way.

A week ago, Majority Leader Harry Reid declared that anyone appointed by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich “will not be seated by the Democratic Caucus.” But that was so last year.

Now to save face, Reid wants the “tainted” Burris to jump through hoops. He is also using the fig leaf of a missing signature. CQ Politics reports:

After meeting with Burris in the Capitol, Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Durbin signaled an openness to seating Burris, despite earlier remarks that Burris was tainted by corruption charges against Blagojevich that include allegations he tried to sell the Senate appointment.

We have a situation here,” said Reid, noting that newly elected senators have traditionally needed the signatures of the governor and secretary of state. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White has refused to sign the appointment papers given Blagojevich’s legal troubles.

Reid said leaders would await a decision by the Illinois Supreme Court on Burris’s lawsuit to force White to sign his certification.

Once that’s done, that will be one step out of the way,” Reid said.

T’aint so, says White who told the Chicago Tribune Senate Democrats are “throwing him under the bus.”

Earlier, White told WGN Radio:

They could have seated him without my signature. My signature is not necessarily required in order for the Senate to place the gentleman in the seat that he was appointed to by Governor Blagojevich.

White added:

They played a little bit of a game with the gentleman yesterday. They have the authority to put the gentleman in place...

It’s ugly.

You can listen to the full interview here.