Quinn calls on Sen. Burris to resign

SPRINGFIELD - Gov. Pat Quinn called on embattled U.S. Sen. Roland Burris to quit and urged state lawmakers to approve a special election in hopes of finally finding a Senate replacement who'll have public confidence.

Quinn said Friday that Burris made a "gigantic mistake" in accepting the Senate appointment from now-ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who had been arrested on federal charges of trying to sell off an appointment to the seat left vacant when Barack Obama was elected president.

Obama weighed in Friday, too, saying through a spokesman that Burris should "take some time" to correct the record and consider his future in the Senate.

Calls for resignation are coming from across the state's political spectrum. On Friday, Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias said Burris should quit as did Democratic U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, of Geneva. Numerous state lawmakers have offered similar thoughts, with Elmhurst Republican state Rep. Dennis Reboletti among those seeking to have the Illinois House officially ask for Burris' resignation.

This comes as influential black Chicago ministers are reportedly meeting to consider asking Burris to resign. Those same ministers strongly backed Burris when he took the Senate appointment.

A Burris spokesman urged patience and understanding. Burris personally swore off talking to reporters earlier this week as controversy grew over his contact with Blagojevich insiders before the appointment.

"He's asked the public and officials not to rush to judgment and let all the facts come out," spokesman Jim O'Connor told the Daily Herald.

But Burris' top Senate aide decided that Friday afternoon was a good time to split from the Chicago Democrat.

"Three weeks ago, I was temporarily detailed to serve as chief of staff to Senator Roland W. Burris. Though my tenure was relatively brief, I enjoyed and valued my time with Senator Burris, his entire staff and his other advisers," said Darrel Thompson, who returns to his post as a senior aide to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Quinn's call for a special election bucks fellow Democrats who'd balked at its potential multimillion-dollar price tag and the chance that a Republican could win Obama's seat.

In case Burris quits - and there were few signs he will - Quinn wants lawmakers to send him a proposal along the lines of what Marengo Democrat Jack Franks has put forth. It would let a governor name a temporary Senate replacement until a special election occurs. That plan is pending in the Illinois House but continues to face a questionable future.

A spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan, a Chicago Democrat, wondered where the millions for the special election would be found.

And while Congressman Foster called on Burris to resign, he didn't back a special election should that happen.

"The problem with Roland's appointment and everything with it has much to do with the governor who appointed him. I have a whole lot more confidence in Governor Pat Quinn," said Foster, who joined Congress last year after winning a special election.

However, Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, also a Chicago Democrat, welcomed news of Quinn's direction and said the issue would be reviewed. A spokeswoman said Cullerton had supported special elections in the past.

Quinn said money shouldn't be a factor.

"In a democracy, you don't say we don't have the voice of the people heard because it costs too much," he said.

After Blagojevich's federal arrest on Dec. 9, lawmakers rushed back to the Capitol reportedly ready to enact a special election law stripping Blagojevich of his ability to name a senator.

Instead, the decision was made to launch impeachment proceedings. But before he was removed from office, Blagojevich went ahead and named Burris to the Senate.

In his testimony to an impeachment panel, Burris said he'd had limited contact with only one Blagojevich aide about the seat.

But in subsequent legal filings and public statements, Burris acknowledged talking with several Blagojevich insiders and even trying, but failing, to raise money for him before the appointment.

A Senate ethics inquiry has begun, and a downstate county prosecutor is considering perjury charges.

Unless Burris voluntarily steps aside, he's likely to remain senator, as those investigations could take months.

However, Republican lawmakers believe that because Burris is a temporary senator, the U.S. Constitution permits Illinois to hold a special election ending his term and picking a full-fledged replacement.

Quinn brushed aside the idea, saying its legality is unclear and a protracted court fight would be expensive and might last longer than Burris' appointment.

The primary for that U.S. Senate seat is currently scheduled for Feb. 2010. The current term ends in Jan. 2011.

Daily Herald staff writers Dan Carden and Nicole Milstead contributed to this report.

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