Burris Brouhaha Continues

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Feb 19, 2009 10:25PM

It's been a busy day for Sen. Roland Burris, or at least in the press. Here's (most of) what's happened.

• The Sun-Times has joined the Trib in calling for Burris to resign, saying, "A month into the job, Burris has squandered any chance of being an effective senator. He must go." An anonymous pastor told the Associated Press that a group of influential black pastors will also be calling on Burris to resign.
• The Sun-Times also dug into Burris' phone records and show that, in spite of his attempt to correct the number of contacts he made with Blago's staff, Sen. Burris contacted the staff many more times than he's owned up to.
• The entire Burris imbroglio has state GOP leaders again calling for legislation that would require a special election to fill any U.S. Senate vacancies. The GOP is launching petition drives in all 102 Illinois counties to garner support for such legislation.
• Fresh from a trip to the United Arab Emirates, a (possibly jet-lagged) cranky Mayor Daley refused to make any comment on the Burris situation. Asked if there was a cloud hanging over Burris (we suppose akin to the Blago taint?), Hizzoner answered, "If there's a cloud, I guess he has to say what cloud it is. Is it a heavy or a light cloud? It's up to him. I don't know, I haven't had any time to look at it truthfully. I just got back yesterday."
• One more mismatch: state records of Burris' lobbying clients don't match up to the list Burris submitted to a state house committee last month. Sigh.
• A cranky Burris also canceled a scheduled Rockford appearance today and further such appearances will be closed to the press.