Sen. Roland Burris struggled to explain his words Wednesday while again resisting calls for his resignation after the release of a taped conversation in which he pleads for the Senate appointment while discussing contributions to Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

As Burris embarked on a tour of downstate Illinois Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said he was "disappointed" in the junior Democratic senator and expressed his continued desire to see him step down.

"I've given him that advice in the past, and he chose not to take it," Durbin said after meeting with local officials in Des Plaines on other matters.

Meanwhile, Illinois House Republicans introduced a resolution calling for Burris' resignation.

The renewed push comes more than a month after a host of Illinois elected officials demanded Burris' resignation when it became clear he didn't tell Senate leaders or an Illinois House panel the extent of his fundraising for Blagojevich or his quest for the seat before the governor's arrest.

A Senate ethics commission is probing the matter and obtained the now-public tape of a Nov. 13 phone conversation Burris had with Blagojevich's brother, who headed the campaign fund at the time. The wiretapped conversation was taken while federal investigators were pursuing the governor for rampant corruption, including trying to sell the Senate appointment.

A downstate prosecutor is also investigating allegations of perjury from Burris' less-than-revealing testimony before the Illinois impeachment panel in January as his appointment hung in the balance. On Wednesday, Burris fervently denied he did anything wrong and he insisted the tape actually vindicates him because he is recorded saying that making a contribution would look bad.

Burris also said Wednesday he was only placating Blagojevich's brother when he promised to "do something" for the governor.

"Did I try to buy the seat? Never," Burris said. "Did I commit perjury? No."

After accepting the controversial appointment from Blagojevich, Burris gave a written statement to Senate leaders and testified before the Illinois impeachment panel, saying he had no contact with the governor on the appointment before the arrest. He said he was unaware of any pay-to-play schemes involving the appointment.

But the tape reveals Burris discussing contributions and the appointment at the same time with Blagojevich's brother, Rob.

Burris expressed concern about the appearance of making contributions while he was seeking the appointment on the tape. But he still said he wanted to contribute and wanted to be in the running for the seat.

Blagojevich's brother gives no indication in the phone conversation that Burris, a former state's attorney who was most recently a lobbyist, was being seriously considered for the seat.

Durbin said Wednesday it is clear to him Burris was not forthcoming after his appointment and that remains a central issue.

"I stuck my neck out for him," the Springfield Democrat said. "And I just don't think his testimony was accurate."