Burris Getting Blasted for Contradictions
Sen. Roland Burris’ political life seems to get more precarious with every turn. Burris, currently the only African American in the U.S. Senate after being named to the seat once held by President Barack Obama, has come under fire for his conflicting stories about his relationship with then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Contradicting earlier testimony regarding his ties to the governor, Burris has acknowledged that he tried to raise money for Blagojevich, who has been impeached and booted out of office amid charges that he sought to sell Obama’s Senate seat to the highest bidder. He has also admitted, after the appointment, that he had contact with a number of the governor’s aides during the time he was being considered for the seat. But in yet another seemingly unsavory revelation, The Chicago Sun Times reports that Burris’ son was hired as a senior counsel for the Illinois Housing Development Authority by Blagojevich’s administration last September. Roland Burris II was facing a $34,163 tax lien and a foreclosure proceeding on his Chicago home at the time of the hiring, the newspaper reports. This news is just further fueling the outrage among those who are calling for the senator to step down. One of those vociferous opponents is Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). “I told him that under the circumstances, I would resign. He said, ‘I’m not going to resign.’ I can’t force him,” Durbin said.

Obama’s Budget Battle Begins
This week, the president will send his top adviser to Capitol Hill to defend his budget and spending priorities as outlined last week. In his weekly radio address Saturday, he challenged his critics and called for the American people and Congress to understand the change he’s determine to bring about.

TAGS: budget, President Obama, Rod Blagojevich, Roland Burris

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