On Capitol Hill, Senate Democrats blocked fellow Democrat Roland Burris from claiming his Senate seat six days after he was appointed by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to fill the seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the appointment of Burris is tainted because Blagojevich is accused of trying to auction off the job for cash or other favors. The governor was arrested on December 9 on federal corruption charges, but he remains in office. Burris is the former Illinois Attorney General. If he is allowed to serve, he would be the only African American in the Senate. After Burris was denied his Senate seat, he spoke to reporters outside.

Roland Burris: “Members of the media, my name is Roland Burris, the junior senator from the state of Illinois. I presented my credentials to secretary of the Senate and advised that my credentials were not in order and I would not be accepted, and I will not be seated, and I will not be permitted on the floor, and therefore I am not seeking to have any type of confrontation. I will now consult with my attorneys, and we will determine what our next step will be. Thank you all very much, and God bless each and every one of you.”

Democratic officials are discussing allowing Roland Burris to take over Obama’s old seat as long as he agrees not to run for election in 2010.