Burris should resign from U.S. Senate

Sadly, I believe it is in the best interests of Illinois that Roland Burris resign from his seat in the U.S. Senate.

As a part of the process leading to Senate confirmation, Burris went before the House Impeachment committee in Springfield to clarify his contacts with former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his advisers before the Senate appointment. The purpose of that appearance was clear. If Burris made the case that there were no improper communications, his Senate appointment would be approved. In fact, that's the sequence of events that followed.

But now, new information has come to light about those communications, and Burris finds himself in the same position as two recent high-profile Cabinet appointees, former Senator Tom Daschle and Governor Bill Richardson. Both had superior credentials, but both withdrew their names from consideration when problematic situations surfaced that would be a distraction to the Obama administration and the country during a time of crisis. As appointees, not elected by the voters, Daschle and Richardson withdrew because they knew it was the right thing to do, for the good of the country.

As a government leader and civil rights trailblazer, Sen. Burris has served the state of Illinois and the nation honorably for many decades. He should do so again.

Dan Hynes

Comptroller, State of Illinois