Burris Was Always "Just A Liability"

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Thu Feb 19, 2009 at 10:38:59 AM EST
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Yesterday, Glenn Reynolds linked to some Republicans and Republican journalists who lack a basic understanding of the Senate 3/5 rules for cloture (and for legislation raising the deficit). The gist of the Republican argument is that Democrats needed 60 votes to pass the stimulus and that is why Roland Burris was accepted in the Senate. This is how Reynolds puts it later:

Dems Abandon Burris. Hey, the stimulus passed, so now he’s just a liability.

Actually Burris was always "just a liability." As has been pointed out here, this claim of a 60 vote requirement (also made by Burris supporters when arguing for seating him) is false. What is needed is 3/5 of the number of Senators seated. Kagro at Congress Matters explains:

If Burris hadn't been in the Senate, there would have been 98 sitting Senators. The threshold for waiving budget points of order and for invoking cloture -- both of which came to votes during the stimulus debate -- isn't actually set at 60 votes. It's 3/5 of the number of Senators chosen and sworn. Three-fifths of 98 is 59.

Without Burris in the Senate, nothing changes in terms of the voting. Fifty-seven Democrats plus Snowe, Collins and Specter gets the job done. In fact, 56 Democrats -- excluding Senator Kennedy, who's been ill and didn't vote on passage of the conference report -- plus the three Republicans does the trick.

Kass has that wrong, and everyone who's citing him -- Glenn Reynolds at Instapundit, for instance -- has it wrong, too.

Roland Burris has done nothing positive for Democrats or Illinois as a Senator. He has been a constant embarrassment. He always was nothing but a liability. The sooner he leaves, the better.

Speaking for me only

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Burris Was Always "Just A Liability" | 13 comments (13 topical)

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Don't let Reynolds et al do your taxes (5.00 / 1) (#5)
by Molly Bloom on Thu Feb 19, 2009 at 11:15:41 AM EST

that is an endeavor that requires some reading comprehension and the ability to do simple math.

(MB takes stab at being the Atrios of this talk left post - with apologies to Atrios.)

: Sounds like the title of a country (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by oculus on Thu Feb 19, 2009 at 11:34:10 AM EST

western hit.

true enough. (5.00 / 1) (#13)
by cpinva on Thu Feb 19, 2009 at 02:45:16 PM EST

The sooner he leaves, the better.

but he'll have to be dragged out, kicking and screaming racism, leaving deep furrows on the senate floor, with his fingernails.

"he's just a liability, everywhere he goes, that's what people are saying"

sung to the tune of: "he's just a gigilo"*

*with apologies to diamond dave

BTD, any thoughts on the possibility of him being expelled from the senate, for committing perjury?

: Well (none / 0) (#14)
by jbindc on Thu Feb 19, 2009 at 02:57:39 PM EST

They didn't kick out Larry Craig, or David Vitter, and the last time senators were expelled was 1862 for being Confederate supporters.

LAT's Savage on Senate's (none / 0) (#1)
by oculus on Thu Feb 19, 2009 at 10:49:44 AM EST

history re its own: Senate

: Everything controversial (none / 0) (#3)
by andgarden on Thu Feb 19, 2009 at 11:02:05 AM EST

takes forever in the Senate. It's why it would have been much easier to keep Burris out in the first place than to try and remove him now.

Apparently (none / 0) (#2)
by Steve M on Thu Feb 19, 2009 at 10:51:19 AM EST

they are under the impression that the stimulus bill is the last piece of legislation we intend to enact.

But this is why Glenn Reynolds is the Atrios of the right. Smart guy who wastes 95% of his time just taking pot shots.

And Blago would have named a Dem (none / 0) (#4)
by Cream City on Thu Feb 19, 2009 at 11:03:06 AM EST

anyway, one who would have gone along with the stimulus bill -- even though the vote wasn't needed.

Dumb argument, either or any way.

What is fate of the 3 republicans? (none / 0) (#8)
by Saul on Thu Feb 19, 2009 at 12:00:16 PM EST

Will they vote again to help Obama in future bills? There is already talk of Stimulus 2 If not then how does Obama get any more bills passed if all the republicans stick together like they did for Stimulus 1.
What say you?

: The Maine 2 (none / 0) (#9)
by Socraticsilence on Thu Feb 19, 2009 at 12:41:56 PM EST

Pretty much have to stick with Obama- theirs a reason they're the only 2 GOP Senators in all of New England other than Greg- well and Liberman but technically he's a member of CFL so he's not a Rep.

Pension (none / 0) (#10)
by randy80302 on Thu Feb 19, 2009 at 01:08:33 PM EST

How long must a Senator serve to qualify for the Pension?

Here's your answer (none / 0) (#11)
by jbindc on Thu Feb 19, 2009 at 01:15:02 PM EST

Members who have participated in the congressional pension system are vested after 5 years of service. A full pension is available to Members 62 years of age with 5 years of service; 50 years or older with 20 years of service; or 25 years of service at any age. A reduced pension is available depending upon which of several different age/service options is chosen. If Members leave Congress before reaching retirement age, they may leave their contributions behind and receive a deferred pension later.
How much they receive depends on a complicated formula based on when they joined Congress, how old they are at the time of retirement, how many years of service they had at the time of retirement (including previous military or other federal service), their salary, and which pension option they chose when they enrolled. In any case, a Member's pension amount may not exceed 80% of his/her salary upon retirement.

: More info (none / 0) (#12)
by jbindc on Thu Feb 19, 2009 at 01:16:33 PM EST