Politics

CHICAGO (CBS) ― The son of embattled Sen. Roland Burris landed a job with the Illinois Housing Development Authority five months ago under the administration of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, and the younger Burris' status is under review.

Gov. Pat Quinn's office confirmed to CBS 2 that Roland Burris II has been a $75,000-per-year senior counsel for the housing agency since September.

The younger Burris' status as a lawyer in state government is now "under review" by the governor's Chief of Staff and General Counsel, Quinn's office told CBS 2 early Thursday afternoon. The review is part of an overall review of all lawyers under the governor, representatives said.

Gov. Pat Quinn said Thursday that his office is reviewing how Burris' son got the job to "make sure everything is right and proper."

"I think the matter deserves serious review, and quickly," he said.

Quinn noted the housing authority makes its own hiring decisions, but he said he might have some recommendations to make after looking into the issue.

The hiring of the younger Burris came six weeks after the Internal Revenue Service slapped him with a $34,163 tax lien and three weeks after a mortgage company filed a foreclosure lawsuit on his Chicago home.

The Housing Authority Administration oversees mortgage programs for low-income home buyers and anti-foreclosure initiatives.

Authority spokeswoman Rebecca Boykin told the Chicago Sun-Times that Burris II was given the job based on his qualifications and in response to a published job posting. But Senator Burris has said publicly that in the past, he lobbied Blagojevich to hire his son.

The senator is fending off calls for his resignation because of conflicting testimony he provided the House panel that drafted impeachment charges against Blagojevich.

Also Thursday, the Union League of Chicago called for Senator Burris to resign. The civic institution said it was the first time the group has called for a senator to quit. The group opposes government corruption and promotes government efficiency.

U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), a top-ranking African-American House member, has called for Burris to call it quits after he finishes the two remaining years of his term. But Clyburn said he doesn't see any reason why Burris should quit before then.

But the Chicago City Council Black Caucus held a news conference Thursday afternoon in support of Burris.

"Let him stay there," Ald. Ed Smith (28th) said. "Stop beating up on him. Stop pushing him around."

"It's just an attempt to muddy the man's name," said Ald. Fredrenna Lyle (6th). "If they throw enough rocks at him, if they put his children in jeopardy, then maybe he'll step down and they can put their person in."

The aldermen warned that Democrats who call for Burris' resignation, like Sen. Durbin and Gov. Quinn, run the risk of permanently alienating black voters.

And the quest for a special election to oust Burris may not be over. Attorney General Lisa Madigan issued an legal opinion, saying she believes the U.S. Constitution allows state lawmakers to mandate a new vote, even though the seat's already filled.

Northwestern law professor and former State Comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch said, she agrees.

"The language makes it possible for an election to be called, it seems to me. I think it would probably be challenged," Netsch said.

It would be challenged in court, no doubt, by Burris supporters, which could ignite months of legal wrangling.

CBS 2's Ed Marshall and Derrick Blakley, the Associated Press and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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