Opinion: A call for resignation

March 4, 2009
By Katie Salter
Staff Writer

Roland Burris has one ethically sound option left- resignation.

The newly appointed Senator’s continued “service” to Illinois has crippled our already questionable political reputation, making our state the laughing stock of Washington, and the subject of national ridicule.

Each new version of Burris’ story merely fuels the damning fire against him. Initially, an appointment from a governor accused of selling a U.S. Senate seat looks like political suicide. But after he accepted, he supplied none of the transparency he promised Illinois citizens. His epic tale has changed so many times that Senate leaders are even suggesting that he may be guilty of perjury.

But even when Illinoisans table the issue of Burris’ dishonesty, there are simply too many facts that cloud his reputation and raise serious doubt of his capability to effectively represent our state.

Consider the most recent twist in his story- Roland Burris II, his son, was directly employed by Blagojevich, through the Illinois Housing Development Authority. The $75,000 a year job required extensive knowledge of law and finance, which the IHDA claims they saw in Burris II when he applied through Monster.com.

In fact, the Northwestern Law graduate was probably better suited than most to address those issues, due to his recent federal tax troubles and a mortgage foreclosure suit. Who better to solve our housing issues in a crippled market than one who is personally experiencing the problem?

This revelation should be the last straw with Sen. Roland Burris. He owes the people of Illinois his resignation, because every shred of evidence points to the simple and obvious conclusion that a quid pro quo agreement between the corrupt former governor and the recent appointee.

Burris has shown us many benefits he has gained from this Senate appointment and his close contact with Blagojevich’s inner circle of advisors, but he has yet to offer one benefit to the people of Illinois, who he is “serving.” This political farce needs to end.