Law Firm Donations
ArchPundit
Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan was Burris, Wright, Slaughter and Tom until 2007 when it merged. So if we look at the donations we see
$1000 from GSH
$5,000 from Burris, Wright, Slaughter, and Tom.
December 2008
Two Clarifications for the National Press
One, Roland Burris II is part of a law firm that has made significant contributions to Blagojevich as well, but Burris the elder is no longer with the firm–he was of counsel previously for RB II’s firm. Whether to include those contributions in Burris the elder’s total depends upon the dates. His current firm has given some as well–I’ll break that out in a bit.
Burris’s lobbying firm didn’t receive only $295,000 in state contracts, try $705,000 since 2003.
Burris on Maddow
Burris was frightenling coherent. He still was awful, but not as bad as I expected. Video to come–no TiVo so I’m at the mercy of the internets.
Can’t Make This Up
Questions also surfaced in 2004 about Burris’s consulting firm, when it was awarded a $150,000 state contract to advise disadvantaged businesses on how to improve their operations and ultimately win state contracts. Burris said politics played no role in his firm obtaining the contract.
Donate lots of money would be the obvious answer.
A Major Outcry from the People of Illinois
Anyone got Burris in a cowboy hat?
You really do have to wonder what planet Roland Burris is living on right now.
In an appearance just now on MSNBC, Burris was asked about the possibility of the Senate refusing to seat him. “Well, I think you will see a major outcry from the people of Illinois,” Burris said, “based on the fact that the governor has appointed me.”
You read that correctly: Burris says the people will have a major outcry to a Blagojevich-appointed Senator not being seated.
Burris also said he would legally challenge any decision by the Senate not to seat him. He probably has a better shot there.
If by major you mean Bobby Rush, Roland Burris and hecklers at a press conference, yes. Otherwise, no.
Durbin
Via Progress Illinois (doing great work again)
Senate leaders a couple of weeks ago threatened to refuse to seat any appointment by Mr. Blagojevich on grounds that a man accused of trying to auction off the seat couldn’t very well be allowed to fill it with anyone, even a saint. When I got Illinois’ senior senator on the phone late Tuesday morning to ask him if that threat still stands, Dick Durbin declined all comment, saying he might have something to say later.
Frankly, he sounded like someone had hit him with a frying pan.
And while I’ve been reading, let me welcome Greg to the blogosphere. He does great work and it’s good to see him join other great Chicago journalists with a blog.
Reform and Renewal part 493,034,302,322
| Burris, Roland & Berlean 8358 South Indiana Avenue Chicago, IL 60619 Occupation: Corporate Officer Employer: Burris & Lebed |
$1,000.00 6/9/2004 |
Individual Contribution Friends of Blagojevich |
|
| Burris, Roland & Berlean 8358 South Indiana Avenue Chicago, IL 60619 Occupation: Corporate Officer Employer: Burris & Lebed |
$1,000.00 6/13/2005 |
Individual Contribution Friends of Blagojevich |
| Burris, Roland 8358 S. Indiana Ave Chicago, IL 60619 Occupation: Corp. Officer Employer: Burris and Lebed |
$1,500.00 10/22/2007 |
Individual Contribution Friends of Blagojevich |
|
| Burris, Roland 8358 S. Indiana Ave Chicago, IL 60619 Occupation: Corp. Officer Employer: Burris and Lebed |
$1,000.00 6/27/2008 |
Individual Contribution Friends of Blagojevich |
| Burris & Lebed Consulting LLC 1130 South Wabash Chicago, IL 60605 |
$500.00 8/14/2002 |
Individual Contribution Friends of Blagojevich |
|||
| Burris & Lebed Consulting LLC 1130 South Wabash Chicago, IL 60605 |
$500.00 10/3/2002 |
Individual Contribution Friends of Blagojevich |
| Burris & Lebed Consulting LLC 1130 South Wabash Chicago, IL 60605 |
$1,500.00 6/9/2004 |
Individual Contribution Friends of Blagojevich |
| Burris & Lebed Consulting LLC 1130 South Wabash Chicago, IL 60605 |
$1,500.00 6/13/2005 |
Individual Contribution Friends of Blagojevich |
|||
| Burris & Lebed Consulting LLC 1130 South Wabash Chicago, IL 60605 |
$1,000.00 7/25/2003 |
Individual Contribution Friends of Blagojevich |
|||
| Burris & Lebed Consulting LLC 35 East Wacker Drive Suite 500 Chicago, IL 60601 |
$97.50 3/14/2006 |
In-Kind Contribution Friends of Blagojevich |
Postage | USPS | 3750 North Kedzie Chicago, IL 60618 |
| Burris & Lebed Consulting LLC 35 East Wacker Drive Suite 500 Chicago, IL 60601 |
$713.44 3/14/2006 |
In-Kind Contribution Friends of Blagojevich |
Printing | Consolidated Printing Co. Inc. | P.O. Box 31005 Chicago, IL 606312664 |
| Burris & Lebed Consulting LLC 35 East Wacker Drive Suite 500 Chicago, IL 60601 |
$75.00 3/14/2006 |
In-Kind Contribution Friends of Blagojevich |
Cleaning Services | Calhoun, Anita | 10113 South Beverly Chicago, IL 60643 |
| Burris & Lebed Consulting LLC 35 East Wacker Drive Suite 500 Chicago, IL 60601 |
$910.29 3/14/2006 |
In-Kind Contribution Friends of Blagojevich |
Meals & Ent. For Supp Contr & Stf | Melon Express | 7108 Oglesby Ave Chicago, IL 60649 |
| Burris & Lebed Consulting LLC 35 East Wacker Drive Suite 500 Chicago, IL 60601 |
$2,500.00 3/13/2006 |
Individual Contribution Friends of Blagojevich |
|||
| Burris & Lebed Consulting LLC 35 East Wacker Drive Suite 500 Chicago, IL 60601 |
$1,500.00 3/13/2006 |
Individual Contribution Friends of Blagojevich |
This doesn’t include his law firm’s donations or those made by his previous law firm. The above is around $16,000 to Blagojevich personally and through his lobbying firm.
Contracts from State Government:
STATE CONTRACT ANALYSIS
BURRIS & LEBED CONSULTING LLC |
| All contracts since FY 2003 in descending order. |
| Agency | Contract | Amount | |
BURRIS & LEBED CONSULTING LLC / FY 2006
| TRANSPORTATION | 494 / 6000AB05005 | $233,933.74 |
| BURRIS & LEBED CONSULTING LLC | 35 E WACKER DR STE 500 CHICAGO , IL, 60601 |
|
BURRIS & LEBED CONSULTING LLC / FY 2005
| TRANSPORTATION | 494 / 5000AB05005 | $299,000.00 |
| BURRIS & LEBED CONSULTING LLC | 35 E WACKER DR STE 500 CHICAGO , IL, 60601 |
|
| TRANSPORTATION | 494 / 5000AB04209 | $23,501.12 |
| BURRIS & LEBED CONSULTING LLC | 35 E WACKER DR STE 500 CHICAGO , IL, 60601 |
|
BURRIS & LEBED CONSULTING LLC / FY 2004
| TRANSPORTATION | 494 / 4000AB04209 | $149,000.00 |
| BURRIS & LEBED CONSULTING LLC | 35 E WACKER DR CHICAGO , IL, 60601 |
|
Reform and Renewal part 493,034,302,322
Or how not to make people feel good about government.
$705,434 in state contracts received.
With all apologies and credit to Rich for the title.
Burris Is The New Palin
Roland Burris has no clue what he’s just signed up for. Obviously there will be the court cases and he may well win those. I don’t think the Senate refusing to seat a Senator is necessarily legal and I think White blocking it has even more problems–though we might as well try.
Burris is going to get picked apart like road kill by buzzards while the national and local press go through every donation, every business deal, every lobbying effort he ever made. Everything will be suspect, everything will be assumed to be dirty, and after a fairly distinguished career as a black politician who broke through many barriers (though mediocre in office), he will end his career as a joke his name will evoke derision whenever it is invoked. He’ll be a Mike Brown kind of character who is pitied as much as ridiculed for allowing himself to be put in a spot so far over his head he cannot imagine what will happen to him.
And he deserves it for taking this appointment.
Madigan
* From Speaker Madigan’s spokesman, Steve Brown…
I think I will defer on today’s questions.
Be assured the impeachment process will continue
Every time the discussion of impeachment comes up with the Speaker I can’t help, but sing to myself:
[ANNIE]
The sun’ll come out
Tomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar
That tomorrow
There’ll be sun!
Just thinkin’ about
Tomorrow
Clears away the cobwebs,
And the sorrow
‘Til there’s none!
When I’m stuck a day
That’s gray,
And lonely,
I just stick out my chin
And Grin,
And Say,
Oh!
The sun’ll come out
Tomorrow
So ya gotta hang on
‘Til tomorrow
Come what may
Tomorrow! Tomorrow!
I love ya Tomorrow!
You’re always
A day
A way!
Giannoulias
Gov. Blagojevich’s actions today demonstrate an even greater need for the General Assembly to move quickly with impeachment proceedings and remove him from office. The question here is not whether Roland Burris would make a good Senator. The question is whether Blagojevich should have the right to make the appointment. Regardless of whether he wanted to appoint Mother Theresa or Abraham Lincoln, I believe Blagojevich lost that right when he allegedly attempted to sell the Senate seat to the highest bidder. He abused his power and should lose his appointment power. Because of Blagojevich’s actions, the appointment process has been tainted and will continue to be tainted as long as he holds office. In the best interest of the people of Illinois, I encourage Secretary of State White to refuse to certify the appointment.