Illinois Governor Calls on Burris to Resign

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has called on U.S. Sen. Roland Burris to resign. Meanwhile, there's more evidence that Burris was telling more associates of Gov. Rod Blagojevich that he wanted Barack Obama's Senate seat than what was previously disclosed. Surprising?

During a press conference today, Quinn asked his "good friend" Burris to voluntarily resign. "He will always be held in high regard by the people for making this decision," Quinn said about any forthcoming resignation. "The common good is really what we have to focus on today."

Quinn also said he supports a bill to fill U.S. Senate vacancies with a temporary appointee by the governor, followed by a special primary and general election. "There's just too much of a cloud of controversy over the appointment process," Quinn said.

Illinois Congressman Phil Hare also joined Quinn's call. He told CNN Friday that Burris made a mistake in accepting Blago's appointment to fill Barack Obama's Senate seat - a seat others turned down before him, to avoid any scandal associated with Blago's scheming. The AP is reporting that some black ministers also plan to ask for Burris' resignation.

The calls for Burris to leave the Senate he fought so hard to get into keep coming after revelations that he tried to raise money for Blago, despite Burris testifying before the Illinois House committee that helped oust the governor that he hadn't had contact with key Blago staffers or offered anything in return for the Senate seat. The Chicago Sun-Times says if Burris lied - er, I mean "misled" - to the Illinois House, then he also did the same thing with the Illinois Supreme Court last month. That Jan. 5 affidavit said Burris had no contact prior to Dec. 26 with any representatives of Blago about a potential appointment.The Sun-Times says the Sangamon County state's attorney's office is investigating whether Burris committed perjury in that document or during his House testimony.

Meanwhile, The Chicago Tribune reports today that John Filan, a former top Blago official, says he got a "courtesy call" from Burris last fall relaying his interest in Obama's seat. Burris hasn't mentioned that call to lawmakers. Filan says Burris also called him later Blago's Dec. 9 arrest, and asked him to put in a good word with Quinn if he ascended to the governor's job and had the power to pick Obama's replacement.

In the most recent affidavit Burris filed with the Democratic leader of the Illinois House impeachment committee, on Feb. 4, Burris changed his story, saying he had more contacts with Blago allies and associates than previously revealed, including the governor's brother and chief fundraiser. But he didn't mention Filan, the Tribune says.

During the daily White House briefing, Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs was asked what Burris should do, at which time he very ... deliberately ... answered, ... carefully ... picking ... his ...words.

"It might be important for Senator Burris to take some time this weekend to correct what's been said and certainly think about what lays in his future," Gibb said. After that, reporters quickly spoke up, asking what exactly, should be in that future.

It's important "for him to come up with an explanation that will satisfy..." Gibbs tried to say, but American Urban Radio Networks' correspondent April Ryan cut him off, trying to get at what exactly would "satisfy" the masses.

"That's a question for Roland Burris. I'm Robert Gibbs," the spokesman said.