Why is no one paying attention to the money ties between Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Roland Burris, who will soon become the junior U.S. Senator from Illinois?
I blogged on Monday about the fact that Burris's lobbying partner, Fred Lebed, sits on the board of the Chicago Christian Industrial League (CCIL). CCIL gave Patti Blagojevich an $80,000-a-year job as its development director--despite no apparent experience--at around the time the feds started looking into her real estate business activities. Lebed served on Blago's transition team.
To my surprise, the blog did not attract much attention until last night, when it came up on CNN's "AC360" in a report by Drew Griffin. Cooper also featured it on his blog.
Here's the transcript from much of that report:
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Republicans in Springfield want Burris to explain how he got the appointment from Illinois' tainted governor. Records are beginning to reveal state contracts, political contributions and even the job for the governor's wife that at least raised questions by Republicans that Burris may have paid to play.
JIM DURKIN (R), ILLINOIS STATE ASSEMBLYMAN: But I want Mr. Burris to, under oath, talk about that, about exactly when his interest in this seat, when he became interested in the seat, how back it went, who did he talk to and exactly the communications that went back and forth between him and the governor and any type of documentations which he may have given to the governor.GRIFFIN: The governor stands accused but not indicted in an investigation focused on the use of public office for personal gain, including alleged trying to sell the Senate seat vacated by President- elect Obama.
Illinois Republicans want to know if Burris was paying to play. Their possible evidence? State records show Roland Burris and his lobbying firm contributed more than $20,000 to Governor Blagojevich's political campaigns.
Two years ago, Roland Burris hosted a $1,000-a-plate fund-raiser for the governor. Burris' consulting firm won nearly $300,000 in state contracts over the last four years. And, just this September, the governor's wife, Patti Blagojevich, was hired in an $80,000-a-year job with the Chicago Christian Industrial League, where Burris' lobbying partner is a board member.
Today, in a press conference, Burris said his selection had nothing to do with money or a pay-to-play scheme.
ROLAND BURRIS, FORMER ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL: Certainly no pay to play involved, because I don't have no money.
This morning I was listening to Don Wade and Roma on WLS-AM Chicago. They were talking to Illinois Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo), who sits on the House impeachment committee. Franks said there is nothing in Burris's background to suggest pay to play. That's simply not true.
When the impeachment panel questions the man who may be Illinois' next U.S. Senator and who will certainly run again in 2010--and might do better than expected given the voters' short attention span--Burris must be questioned closely on the contributions and favors that changed hands between him and the governor and between the lobbying firm, Burris & Lebed Consulting, LLC. and the state of Illinois.
Sold a senate seat for a skin
To try to embarrass
His Party with Burris
A ploy that he thought was no sin.
Wow. So you are a died-in-the-wool Repug? Considering Your taste of AM in the AM, I'm not surprised you are looking under rocks for anything and everything. Those guys are just toadies for the Republican talking points.
citizenmike might try to be a little more open minded.
And mjb5406, I also listen to "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" while driving my kids around in the car. It is funny at times.
Maybe Harry Reid and company should wait to hear recordings or see TSS of Monk's intercepted conversations before rushing to seat Burris.
Roland Burris is about a clean as they come in Illinois.
Suddenly you expect people in politics to not know each other.
This is becoming a witch hunt now.
The most interesting news story of yesterday/today is burris's admitting to have called Alonzo ("Lon") Monk ("Lobbyist 1 in Fitzgerald's criminal complaint against blago, whose cell phone was tapped) to get some lobbying business. Even if Monk was not on the state payroll at the time, he is extremely close to Blago and certainly had his ear.
--Blago's roommate at Pepperdine law school in Malibu, CA
--groomsman at blago's wedding
--former chief of staff
--marathon running pal
--office next to blago's in Thompson Ctr
--legal counsel when blago was congressman
--ran his gubernatorial campaign in '02 and his reelection campaign in '06
--those closest to Blago when he took office, including his estraged father in law--dick mell, told me when I was writing about blago in 2003 that Monk was closest to him
--read that profile of blago at http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/November-2003/Governor-Sunshine/
More to come; i think i'll post something on Monk once i can dig up the transcript of my taped, face to face interview with him in his office at the Thompson center on 7/21/03
That's the worst dirt on Burris? Just let them fill the damn Senate seat, stat! Burris will do for now.
If he screws up, YOU run for the seat. Nay-saying now doesn't improve the economy, end the Iraq war, advance public education or lay the groundwork for Barack's re-election. Having 58 reliable votes in the Senate (and that less-reliable 59th vote from Connecticut) can.
Good, timely reporting, all the same. Thank you for that!
Also, he is the man who may be the next senator of Illinois, he is the senator for Illinois.
J
Nothing like specious logic,eh?
http://www.chicagoparent.com/article.asp?aID=923974604.1054193.13429.3025585.3658651.649&aID2=1024
In 2002, Madigan helped his daughter Lisa garner more campaign contributions
in her run for Illinois
Attorney General than even the candidates for governor that year.
At one point, Lisa Madigan's $1.2 million raised was more than
all the attorney general candidates in 1998 had raised, combined.
During the campaign, allegations of misconduct in campaign contributions arose-- Madigan was accused of using taxpayer dollars for political purposes.[1] Republican gubernatorial candidate, Jim Ryan, suggested that Madigan should resign.[
1] Madigan's daughter Lisa was running for state Attorney General during that year's election and called the allegations baseless.[1] Lisa Madigan's opponent in the race called on her to pay back taxpayer-paid bonuses her father had paid staffers
before they departed to work on his daughter's campaign.[15] A federal investigation into one of Lisa Madigan's political endorsements ensued after Madigan allegedly contacted a union boss in Chicago shortly before the union endorsed Madigan's daughter for the post, but nothing came out of it.
.
I hope Burris remains held up, and that once Blago is impeached, Quinn rescinds his appointment immediately. I am not in favor of a special election, but I do believe that Quinn would be able to make an effective, cloud-free appointment that will not have warranted grounds for a senate investigation. Illinois deserves immediate representation in the senate, but not from the likes of Roland Burris.
Jeez, did he really say that? Great, a Senator who can't speak correctly.
And if he's short for money, maybe he can sell that huge marble mausoleum he erected for himself.