U.S. Senate officials on Monday approved Roland Burris to fill the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama, which would give Democrats 58 of the Senate’s 100 seats, their biggest majority since 1981.
Barring unanticipated objections from Senate Republicans, Burris, appointed to the seat by embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, could be sworn in within days.
The decision was a major about-face by the Democratic leadership, which initially vowed that the December appointment would not stand because Blagojevich had been arrested on charges of having earlier tried to sell the seat.
Obama had backed that decision. But he later agreed with Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid on the need to find “an amicable solution” to remove the matter as a possible distraction to a busy Democratic legislative agenda, a party aide said.
Buy one, get one.
(HT: Michelle Malkin)
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