WASHINGTON — Senate Democratic leaders plan to grant few — if any — privileges next week to Roland Burris, the man picked by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to represent the state in the Senate, even if Burris arrives on Capitol Hill with the proper credentials.
Senate officials involved in the tangle of planning said Friday that a Democrat will object to Burris being duly sworn with the rest of his class and will propose that his credentials be reviewed for a period of time by the Rules Committee.
That would give Burris the status of a senator-elect to the seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama in the juiciest of several dramas swirling around open Senate seats days before the 111th Congress convenes.
Senate Democrats are slow-walking Burris’ appointment because they hope Blagojevich will be removed from office before the Rules Committee completes its investigation.
As early as next week Blagojevich, accused of offering to sell the appointment to the highest bidder, could become the state’s first chief executive to be impeached.
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