Senate Republicans, meanwhile, say they have no objection to the seating of Burris, who waged a lonely struggle to claim the seat, even standing in the rain outside the Capitol after officials turned him away.
The Blagojevich-Burris saga caused heartburn for senators, as they watched a governor accused of corruption and facing federal indictment trying to force them to accept a senator of his choosing and accusing Reid, the Senate majority leader, of racism.
The secretary of the Senate originally denied Burris' request to be seated, citing a rule dating back to 1884 that requires an appointee to present both a nomination from his home state governor and a certification by the secretary of state. Burris had one, but not the other.
White reversed course Friday evening. He submitted a signed certificate stamped with the state seal attesting that the accompanying Blagojevich appointment letter is a "true and accurate copy" of what was registered by the secretary of state.
Although the Burris appointment was widely seen as an effort by Blagojevich to use racial politics to help his own cause, the move appears to have had no impact: Blagojevich has been impeached by the Illinois House and Burris is likely to take his seat in the U.S. Senate long before the governor faces trial and likely removal from office.
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jzuckman@tribune.com
cparsons@tribune.com
