Skip navigation

Congressional Black Caucus OKs Burris

41-member group votes unanimously in favor of Illinois appointee

Video: Capitol Hill  
  
Harwood breaks down House health bill
Nov. 8: NBC’s Lester Holt speaks with CNBC’s John Harwood.
Obama, Senate prep for health fight
Barbour, Rendell on House health bill
Does House passage give Senate momentum?

Follow @msnbc_politics for more news from D.C.

INTERACTIVE
Get political at Newsvine
Read, rate and discuss the latest news.
Slideshow
  The Week in Political Cartoons
Msnbc.com’s political cartoonists take a look back at the past week.

more photos

updated 2:51 p.m. ET Jan. 7, 2009

WASHINGTON - The Congressional Black Caucus is calling for Illinois Democrat Roland Burris to be allowed to fill President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.

Chairwoman Barbara Lee of California says the 41-member caucus on Wednesday voted unanimously to support seating Burris.

Democratic leaders had resisted seating Burris because he was appointed by embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich, but their stance was softening Wednesday.

Story continues below ↓
advertisement | your ad here

The caucus plans to send a letter to Senate Democratic leaders requesting that Burris be appointed immediately.

If seated, Burris would be the only black member of the Senate.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

  MORE FROM CAPITOL HILL  
  
Capitol Hill Section Front
 
Add Capitol Hill headlines to your news reader:
 

Sponsored links

Resource guide