Burris takes bows at Chicago City Council meeting

Roland Burris, who will become Illinois' junior senator later this week, spent an hour at Chicago's City Hall soaking up the praise of aldermen and Mayor Richard Daley.

The City Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution lauding Burris for having "the intelligence, character and reason that are the attributes of a great leader."

Several aldermen expressed disappointment the U.S. Senate did not seat Burris immediately after he was appointed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who has been tarnished by charges he tried to sell the seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

One alderman, Robert Fioretti, said he supported holding a special election to fill the senate vacancy but added Burris' integrity has never been challenged.

Burris, who will be sworn in Thursday, said he was made speechless and moved by the aldermen's comments.