By James Wright
AFRO Staff Writer
(January 24, 2009) - The political and criminal troubles of the governor who appointed him are far from over, but Roland Burris, the new senator from Illinois has hit the ground running, landing key committee assignments and moving up in seniority because of Senate rules.
Barely a week in his new job, Senate Democrats on Jan. 22 selected Burris to serve on the Armed Services, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and Veterans Affairs committees.
Burris, a life-long Democrat, was appointed to serve in the Senate by a defiant Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) to fill the seat once held by President Barack Obama. After the Illinois secretary of state refused to certify his credentials, Burris was barred from entering the Senate chamber.
Democratic leaders had warned they would not accept Burris’ appointment by Blagojevich, who has been impeached by the Illinois House and faces federal charges for his alleged attempts to sell Obama’s former seat. Senate Democratic leaders finally gave Burris their blessings and he was sworn into office Jan. 15.
The junior senator from Illinois is the only African American now serving in the U.S. Senate.
During his tenure in the Senate, Obama also served on the Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security committees.
The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs has jurisdiction over matters related to the Department of Homeland Security and other homeland security concerns, as well as the functioning of the government itself, including the National Archives, budget and accounting measures other than appropriations, the Census, the federal civil service, the affairs of the District of Columbia and the U.S. Postal Service.
The Veterans Affairs committee is empowered with legislative oversight of the nation’s military, including the Department of Defense, military research and development, nuclear energy, benefits for members of the military, the Selective Service System and other matters related to defense policy.
Ronald Walters, a political scientist and director of African American Leadership Center at the University of Maryland, said Burris has gotten choice assignments for the most part.
“Two of those three committee assignments are very important,” Walters said. “Homeland Security is critical because it gives him leverage in terms of dealing with his state legislature and governor as well as the Obama administration. It is obvious that Armed Services will be good for him because we are in the process of ending the war in Iraq and starting another.
“On that committee, he has an important voice on what will go on but it also depends on what subcommittee he is on.”
Walters said the Veterans Affairs committee is generally not considered a “plum,” but it may work for Burris.
“The Obama administration has made it clear that it will try to make veterans a priority and Burris can work with that,” he said. “Other than that, it’s not considered one of the key committees in the Senate.”
Walters added that since Burris will have the least seniority on the committees, he will not have the chance to be a major player in crafting legislation.
The U.S. Senate is run on the seniority system, which hands out leadership positions of committees, subcommittees and party posts depending on the length of time a senator has been in office.
Freshman senators are generally referred to as “backbenchers” -- those who sit in the back of the Senate floor because of their newness to the chamber.
Though Burris is a fresh face, he’s no longer the newest lawmaker. Delaware’s Ted Kaufman was sworn in on Jan 16, a day after Burris came in and Colorado’s Michael Bennet took the oath of office on Jan 22.
New York Gov. David Patterson on Jan. 23 selected upstate Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand to replace Hillary Rodham Clinton, the new secretary of state in the Obama administration.
The Senate race in Minnesota between comedian Al Franken and former Sen. Norm Coleman is still unresolved.
Walters said that if Burris is to have any power in the Senate, it will not rest in the seniority system.
“While he may be ahead of a few people, it’s not enough to translate to any significant power,” he said. “Burris will get his power working effectively with his committee assignments.”