Watchdog group joins chorus calling for Burris' resignation

Yet another voice is calling for U.S. Sen. Roland Burris to resign.

The Better Government Association, an 85-year-old nonpartisan government watchdog group, called on Burris to step down immediately due to his evolving series of explanations about the circumstances surrounding his appointment.

BGA Acting Executive Director Dave Lundy said in a statement on their Web site at bettergov.org that the resignation is because Burris tried but failed to raise money for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

"Senator Burris has stated that the media is to blame for his troubles and that he's done nothing wrong. We could not disagree more," Lundy said. "Given his bizarre statements this past week, we're left with only two choices. Either he fails to understand why attempting to raise money for a corrupt governor while lobbying that governor for his appointment to the Senate is wrong, or, in his attempts to cover up his misconduct, he has lost track of his own tangled web of deception and lies."

Lundy went on to state that, in either case, Burris is unfit to serve as Senator.

"What is most appalling in this case is that Senator Burris is the former Attorney General of Illinois; the highest law enforcement officer in the State. Of all people, he should have known better," he said "Every day we teach our children not to lie. Why should we accept less from our elected officials? Enough is enough. It's time for Senator Burris to go."

The BGA joins Gov. Pat Quinn, Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, and others in state and federal government calling for Burris' resignation.

Quinn said Friday that Burris made a "gigantic mistake" in accepting the Senate appointment from 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.

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