Burris' Son Was Hired By Blago Administration

(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

The Chicago Sun Times reports that the son of Senator Roland Burris was hired as a senior counsel for the Illinois Housing Development Authority by then-Governor Rod Blagojevich's administration on September 10, 2008.

At the time, Roland W. Burris II was subject to a $34,163 tax lien and a foreclosure proceeding on his Chicago home, the newspaper reports. The mission of the agency "includes overseeing mortgage programs for low-income home buyers and anti-foreclosure initiatives."

The revelations about the hiring of Burris' son comes amid calls for the senator to resign from the seat to which he was appointed by former Gov. Blagojevich, who was impeached and removed from office in the wake of corruption charges.

Burris has come under fire after acknowledging that he tried to raise money for the then-governor and had contact with multiple aides while being considered for the seat, contrary to his prior testimony. He maintains he did nothing wrong.

On Tuesday, fellow Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin suggested that Burris resign from the Senate.

"I told him that under the circumstances, I would resign. He said, 'I'm not going to resign. I can't force him," Durbin said.

If Sen. Burris does manage to keep his seat for the remainder of this term - and he has said he will not resign - he won't have many Senate Democrats cheering for him if and when he runs for re-election next year.

Daniel Farber is editor-in-chief of CBSNews.com.

[wsttxwildcat]

There is nothing Burris has to be ashamed of. It is not a crime to ask for donations. We are not living in Russia. If I was running for office I would ask for donations also.

Posted by mariannpepit
______________________

No, currently we are not living in Russia. But, give us time! At the rate we're going, we should be there in no time at all. LOL!

[mariannpepit]

Thank you CBS for your great message board. I will be posting on another subject and the commentors on this board are great too. There were no nasty smears about any politicans like I have read on other networks.

[mariannpepit]

Race is not the issue with Burris filling the senate seat. The democrats are bitter because Blago chose him and they wanted to have a special election. Well, while in power Blago had that right. Now, the senate wants him out not because of donations, that is an excuse their making. Lisa Madigan wants that seat and her father want the job as Attorney General. It is a big scam in the democratic party. I have not read that in the republican party. We need changes in the senate when election time comes again and vote some of these democrats out. They are out of control trying to push Burris out of his seat. Also, Jessie White should have signed that paper for Burris. I go back to the days of George Dunne, White, Byrne, Washington and two good governors of Illinois, Thompson and Edgar. I registered voters at that time and it was great. Daley was campaigning for Mayor at that time although he lost. What happened to the days of yesterday when voting ran smooth in Illinois.

[mariannpepit]

krisinal: I am so glad you made that comment. I live in Chicago, born and raised here and know exactly what goes on that others don't know. Chicago ran smooth in the days of Richard J. Daley. And the democratic party was great. I voted democrat all the time but now I am having second thoughts except for Burris whom I will vote for if he runs again. I have never seen so much hate and bickering over a senate seat because of donations. We have more important issues to fix in this country where the economy is sagging and the democrats are arguing about a senate seat. If someone asked Burris for a donation or vice versa what is the big crime. The rules need to be changed and let's stop living in Russia.

[mariannpepit]

There is nothing Burris has to be ashamed of. It is not a crime to ask for donations. We are not living in Russia. If I was running for office I would ask for donations also. One hand helps the other and democrats should stick together not apart. They are using an excuse so Lisa Madigan can get that seat. I never seen so many corrupt democrats in all my years of voting. I will definately vote for Burris should he run again but that's the only democrat I will vote for. Between Pelosi, Dean, Durbin and Reid what happened to the honesty? Thank goodness Dean stepped down. All we need is the other three to do the same. The republicans are getting shaped up by Michael Steele who cleaned house when he took over as chairman. Steele is a man who know what to do and say and doesn't need a script in front of him. He will be the power for the republican party and I hope he runs for the presidency.

[mariannpepit]

What happened to my comment. I don't see it on the board.

[mariannpepit]

I didn't see my comment on the board.

[mariannpepit]

I believe that when Blago was governor he could hire who he wanted for a position in government. It doesn't matter that he was the son of Burris. The democrats only want Burris out of his senate seat because they don't like the fact that Blago chose him. I am aware that Madigan wants that seat and her father wants to be attorney general. Quinn wanted to be governor so bad he could taste it and Jessie Jackson, Jr. was the snitch for him. This has been the most corrupt democratic election in history and the democrats need to shape up or stop running for office. The republicans chose a good chairman named Steele and I do hope he has a chance to run for the presidency in 2012. This man knows which way the wind is blowing, cleaned house after he took over and don't need a script in front of him.

[PVperson2]

ChgUBINOT, I keep seeing posts with your name on the CBS boards, I'm beginning to think you MAY be trying to communicate. I always thought you were just sitting on your keyboard farting at the screen.

[larrymiz137]

Illinoies hell show the people of the United States Of America we have a few honest represinatives running the goverment. Kick his little but out of the senate.