Senate Sends Mixed Messages on Burris

Durbin says no, Reid open to talking, and Burris a no-show

By Katherine Thompson, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 4, 2009 12:06 PM CST

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Senate Sends Mixed Messages on Burris — Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill. speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008, about the arrest of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Roland Burris dominated the Sunday morning tongue-wagging, though the would-be senator himself was a no-show, reports the Hill. Elsewhere, mixed messages on whether to seat him:

Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin said on This Week that the Senate has no plans to seat Roland Burris. Burris was scheduled to appear alongside his state's senior senator.
Meanwhile, top Senate Dem Harry Reid told Meet the Press that while the body has the power to block Burris, "there’s always room to negotiate."

Burris told a Chicago television station that he hasn't ruled out a legal fight for the seat.
On Fox News Sunday, George HW Bush focused on Florida's Senate seats, which he hopes son Jeb will occupy—en route to the White House. Bush admits that "right now is probably a bad time" for talk of another President Bush.

(More Senate stories.)

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