Changes

Burris was named by Illinois Governor [[Rod Blagojevich]] to fill the vacant [[U.S. Senate]] seat of President-elect [[Barack Obama]], causing enormous uproar because  Blagojevich was being impeached for trying to sell that same seat. Blagojevich was convicted and removed from office in January 2009.

Burris was named by Illinois Governor [[Rod Blagojevich]] to fill the vacant [[U.S. Senate]] seat of President-elect [[Barack Obama]], causing enormous uproar because  Blagojevich was being impeached for trying to sell that same seat. Blagojevich was convicted and removed from office in January 2009.

Senate Democrats promised not to seat anyone named by Blagojevich, because of the taint associated with him. Therefore, on Jan. 6, 2009, Burris was denied entry to the Senate chambers as he tried to claim the seat.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/06/burris/index.html</ref>  

Senate Democrats promised not to seat anyone named by Blagojevich, because of the taint associated with him. Therefore, on Jan. 6, 2009, Burris was denied entry to the Senate chambers as he tried to claim the seat.<ref>https://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/06/burris/index.html</ref>  

Legally, however, his claim to the seat seemed strong, because it depended on Blagojevich being governor, which he was.

Legally, however, his claim to the seat seemed strong, because it depended on Blagojevich being governor, which he was.

However, Burris later admitted that he did not testify truthfully to the committee while under oath. The Democratic speaker of the state legislature called for an investigation. In Washington, Senate officials investigated the situation. One state representative, a Democrat, sighed that Burris:

However, Burris later admitted that he did not testify truthfully to the committee while under oath. The Democratic speaker of the state legislature called for an investigation. In Washington, Senate officials investigated the situation. One state representative, a Democrat, sighed that Burris:

:"wasn’t forthcoming, and that’s the bottom line. I feel betrayed. The real problem here is the question of trust for the citizens of Illinois. We were supposed to rise to the occasion and, again, Illinois becomes the laughingstock for the nation."<ref>John Chase and Rick Pearson, "Burris changes story on Senate seat," [http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/chi-roland-burris-rod-blagojevich-090214,0,334648.story ''Chicago Tribune'' Feb. 14, 2009]; Natasha Korecki and Dave McKinney, "Illinois lawmakers mull Burris perjury probe," [http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2009/02/illinois_lawmakers_mull_burris.html ''Chicago Sun-Times'' Feb. 14, 2009]; Dirk Johnson and Monica Davey, "Burris Tried to Raise Money for Blagojevich' [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/us/politics/18illinois.html?hp ''New York Times''  Feb. 17, 2009]</ref>

:"wasn’t forthcoming, and that’s the bottom line. I feel betrayed. The real problem here is the question of trust for the citizens of Illinois. We were supposed to rise to the occasion and, again, Illinois becomes the laughingstock for the nation."<ref>John Chase and Rick Pearson, "Burris changes story on Senate seat," [http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/chi-roland-burris-rod-blagojevich-090214,0,334648.story ''Chicago Tribune'' Feb. 14, 2009]; Natasha Korecki and Dave McKinney, "Illinois lawmakers mull Burris perjury probe," [http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2009/02/illinois_lawmakers_mull_burris.html ''Chicago Sun-Times'' Feb. 14, 2009]; Dirk Johnson and Monica Davey, "Burris Tried to Raise Money for Blagojevich' [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/us/politics/18illinois.html?hp ''New York Times''  Feb. 17, 2009]</ref>

Burris is now shunned and ostracized by his fellow senators, and has been "relegated to outcast status on Capitol Hill." <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/01/burris-relegated-outcast-status-capitol-hill/?test=latestnews Burris Relegated to Outcast Status on Capitol Hill], AP, ''FoxNews.com'', June 01, 2009</ref>  

Burris is now shunned and ostracized by his fellow senators, and has been "relegated to outcast status on Capitol Hill." <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/01/burris-relegated-outcast-status-capitol-hill/?test=latestnews Burris Relegated to Outcast Status on Capitol Hill], AP, ''FoxNews.com'', June 01, 2009</ref>  

==ACORN==

==ACORN==

After sensational reports of advising illegal activities by the group ACORN, Burris was one of seven Democrats who voted to continue funding [[ACORN]]. They failed and ACORN was stripped of funding.<ref>[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27153.html Senate denies ACORN funding, Politico, September 14, 2009]</ref>

After sensational reports of advising illegal activities by the group ACORN, Burris was one of seven Democrats who voted to continue funding [[ACORN]]. They failed and ACORN was stripped of funding.<ref>[https://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27153.html Senate denies ACORN funding, Politico, September 14, 2009]</ref>

==References==

==References==