Did Burris mislead impeachment panel?
The Sun-Times has this potential huge story this morning:
Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s brother solicited U.S. Sen. Roland Burris for up to $10,000 in campaign cash before Blagojevich named Burris to the coveted post — something Burris initially failed to disclose under oath before an Illinois House impeachment panel, records and interviews show.
Wow.
Burris’ Cook County Clout
We had posted previously about (Senator-to-be?) Roland Burris’ background as a Cook County political insider - but we missed this little gem of a story in last Wednesday’s Chicago Tribune.
Here’s the most interesting part:
Burris’ clout has also carried over to Cook County where his firm has been paid nearly $425,000 since 2006 to lobby Cook County officials, according to disclosure statements. Of that, $240,000 was paid by ACS Healthcare Solutions, which has been named in the corruption indictment of a former Las Vegas public hospital official.
ACS long pursued an $18 million bill-collection contract with Cook County’s public health system, but County Board President Todd Stroger’s administration pulled the contract from consideration in March, after the Tribune wrote about the indictment.
Please click here to read more about the ACS situation - and then ask yourself: is it really a surprise that a guy like Blagojevich picked a guy like Burris for the Senate?
Roland’s Troubling Record
Capitol Fax Blog today has a post with a listing of various questionable activities undertaken by Roland Burris.
As we have posted previously, Burris is a long-time Cook County political insider with close ties to the machine. His business partner is a former member of Blago’s transition team, and Burris is a recent donor to the governor’s campaign fund.
Please read the CapFax Blog post - it’s very revealing.
Here’s one of our favorite (yet most troubling) snippets:
During Roland Burris’ first full fiscal year as Illinois attorney general, more than half of the money his office awarded for outside legal work went to campaign contributors, according to a book published by Illinois Issues magazine and the Springfield State Journal-Register.
In FY 1992, Burris’ office issued roughly $4 million in outside legal contracts to individuals and law firms, according to the book, Illinois For Sale, which was published in 1997. More than $2.25 million of that amount went to contributors to Burris’ campaign or to the main Democratic fundraising committee.
Whether or not Burris has to legally be “seated’ as our junior senator - he is far from an “independent” candidate.
Can Burris Avoid the Blagojevich Taint?
In today’s press conference in which it was announced Rod Blagojevich would be appointing him to the U.S. Senate seat, Roland Burris brushed off media questions about whether his appointment would be “tainted” by the indictment of the governor.
Of course, the governor highlighted Burris’ supposed independence by noting they were opponents in the 2002 Democratic gubernatorial primary.
What what’s happened since that election?
Well, for one thing, Burris has been a pretty hefty contributor to the governor. In fact, state campaign finance reports shows that he’s a pretty regular $1,000 contributor to Blagojevich’s campaign coffers - including a $1,000 contribution as recently as June of this year.
He also a contributor to much-maligned and machine-supported Cook County Board President Todd Stroger - and Burris’ lobbying firm (in which he is a partner) has contributed to Stroger’s 8th Ward Regular Democratic Organization.
And, as we noted in this post, Burris’ business partner, Fred Lebed, is a longtime Cook County political insider who once served as Cook County Board President John Stroger’s top lieutenant.
Further, in a post entitled, Burris’ Pay-to-Play Political History, the editor at Illinois Review highlights some of Burris’ more “interesting” lobbying clients.
Bottom line: there is a reason Blagojevich tapped Burris for this seat. He called Burris. Burris answered the call and said “yes” to his political friend, Rod Blagojevich.
Roland Burris is not an independent voice for this U.S. Senate seat. He has close ties to the Cook County political machine and is a major contributor to Rod Blagojevich.
Let’s hope the media does their work on this and bets Burris properly. In the end, due to judicial precedent, it might not matter. But the voters of Illinois deserve an honest vetting of this potential U.S. Senator - and a spotlight shined on the contined dubious activities of our machine politicians.
Could White and Reid be Stiff-Armed by Judicial Precedent?
Harry Reid has said his caucus won’t seat any Blagojevich appointee…and Jesse White says he won’t certify Blago’s appointment of Burris.
So the Burris appointment is DOA, right?
Not necessarily.
Matthew J. Franck has this post up at NRO’s Bench Memos which points to a 1969 U.S. Supreme Court decision that may make the Reid/White refusals moot.
All for naught?
Well, our previous post about Burris may not matter much.
Harry Reid is saying he won’t seat a Blago pick, and according to this story, Illinois Sec. of State Jesse White is saying he won’t certify the appointment.
Reading Up On Roland
Well, it looks like Blago is going to appoint (or at least try to) former state Attorney General/gubernatorial candidate Roland Burris to the U.S. Senate seat recently vacated by Barack Obama.
Now the fun begins. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said the Senate will not seat anybody appointed by Blagojevich.
And, even if he was seated, would Burris ever be able to escape the “Appointed by Blagojevich” label?
Burris is currently a lobbyist with the firm of Burris & Lebed Consulting, LLC. Look for some media interest into the clientele of that firm.
Look also for a discussion of Burris’ partner - Fred Lebed, a Democratic “strategist” with a long history of working with Cook County politicians. He served as a special assistant to former Cook County President John Stroger and also as County Liquor Commissioner.
Burris and Lebed are consummate insiders.
Read more about Burris here.
Here is some reading on the expected appointment:
- Greg Hinz: Burris Pick Faces Uncertain Fate
- Politico: Blagojevich Tries to Name Obama Successor
- Red County: Blagojevich to Appoint Roland Burris
- Crain’s: Blagojevich to Name Burris to Senate Seat
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