Blagojevich dismissed impeachment charges, attacked Illinois House

Embattled Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (D-Ill.) responded flippantly to the State House of Representatives over their vote for his impeachment, and accused the state body of trying to oust him for several years.

Blagojevich avoided talking about the criminal accusations against him, and instead proceeded to rail against the house, charging that they had stood in the way of progress.

"[I was] engaged in a struggle with the House to get things done for the people," said Blagojevich during a press conference in which the Governor was surrounded by citizens that he claimed to have claimed to have aided throughout his term.

Blagojevich rapidly listed his legislative attempts and accomplishments, steps that he described as the true reasons for the impeachment vote. Among these were health care reform, the creation of an easier prescription drug program (a move that Blagojevich said was made on the recommendation of former Illinois Rep. and soon to be Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel), a low cost cancer detection program, and property tax relief. After listing each he asked, rhetorically, if it should be considered an impeachable act.

The Governor, who has been accused of trying to sell President Elect Obama's Senate seat, said that he was confident he would be exonerated and ended his press conference by reciting a poem by British Poet Alfred Lord Tennyson, saying "to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

Blagojevich did not take any questions, although those in attendance prompted him to throughout his speech.

Reid defends barring Burris

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) defended the decision to deny seating Illinois Senate appointee Roland Burris on the basis of a 1884 piece of legislature that requires the signatures of both a governor and secretary of state on a senator's credentials before allowing them in the Senate.

Burris, who was recently tapped to fill President Elect Barack Obama's Senate seat by embattled Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (D-Ill.), did not have the signature of the secretary of state.

"If you don't know anything about this, it doesn't look very good," said Reid during a press conference with Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) on the Democratic agenda.

"We've seen time and time again in print, and electronic media, the crude language of Blagojevich saying 'this is a effing gold mine, I have to get everything I can out of it', how were we supposed to react?"

Reid went on to say that the Senate would not move forward until it is entirely clear that Blagojevich acted properly by appointing Burris.

"Until we remove the cloud from this Blagojevich nomination we cannot move forward, and I think it's a pretty easy hurdle to get over," stated Reid.

On Tuesday Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said that there was legal precedent for seating Burris, a notion that Reid dismissed.

"I think Dianne...didn't get all the facts."

Obama declines to comment on Blagojevich, names Education Secretary

President-elect Barack Obama declined to address recent allegations that Rahm Emanuel, the pick for White House Chief of Staff, presented embattled Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich with a list of ‘acceptable’ candidates to replace Obama in the Senate.

“We’ve done a full review of this. The facts are going to be released next week. It would be inappropriate for me to comment,” said Obama during a press conference at Chicago’s Dodge Renaissance Academy.

Obama was similarly tight lipped over whether he would support a special election and stated that while he does not believe the Governor will be able to serve effectively, he will leave the decision to the State Legislature.

The President-elect also filled one his final high profile cabinet positions, nominating the head of the Illinois school system, Arne Duncan, as Education Secretary.

Obama touched upon Duncan’s reform credentials, explaining that the nominee improved teacher quality and rewarded school officials for gains in student achievements.

“He’s shut down failing schools and replaced their entire staffs – even when it was unpopular,” said Obama.

The President-elect linked an improvement in education with long term economic benefits.

“We cannot continue on like this.  It is morally unacceptable for our children – and economically untenable for America.  We need a new vision for a 21st century education system – one where we aren’t just supporting existing schools, but spurring innovation.”