AP says they will but Politico says the report is false:
Democratic aides are disputing reports that there is a deal to seat Roland Burris, even as Burris sits behind closed doors negotiating with Majority Leader Harry Reid and Majority Whip Dick Durbin.
The Associated Press reported a deal had been made, but two Senate Democratic aides, in interviews with Politico are disputing the report that there has been a deal. The report is “wrong,” said Reid spokesman Jim Manley. In a press conference this morning, President-elect Barack Obama declined to take a position on whether to seat Burris. Burris himself is planning two more press conferences today – one at the Hyatt on Capitol Hill and one back in Chicago after he flies home to testify in the impeachment proceedings against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
But it’s looking like it will happen with Feinstein and Feingold making the point that it’s within Blagojevich’s power to appoint Burris. I’m thinking that the limb I’m on is pretty sturdy, I still think he’ll be seated.
posted January 7, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Given that Burris has a long and actually rather distinguished career in public service and would probably be elected if he ran for the office, there is really no rational reason not to seat him. He is certainly more qualified than the bulk of the folks sworn in yesterday.
posted January 7, 2009 at 6:26 pm
It appears that Burris may well be seated, since it looks like the Illinois Secretary of State’s refusal to sign off on the nomination may not be legally required.
This is a frustrating case. Given that there are no charges against Burris (other than the charge he has an ego of galactic dimensions) more and more legal experts are saying the Senate probably does not have the legal grounds to bar him, simply because he got the job from Baby Face Blagojevich.
I am very disappointed in Burris, and I probably won’t vote for him, unless the Illinois Republican Party decides to run Alan Keyes again. One reason Blago was re-elected is that the Republicans could not get their act together and lapsed into a feud between their right wing and their far right wing.