Burris demands to be seated in Senate

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's appointment to the U.S. Senate demanded Sunday that he be seated before Inauguration Day.

In an appearance on CBS's "Face the Nation," former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris said his selection is legitimate, pointing to a state Supreme Court decision.

"I am the junior senator from the state of Illinois. There is no question of my legality of appointment," Burris said. "Illinois has two senators. That is the law. We have two senators."

Before Burris' selection, Senate Democrats had said they would not seat anyone picked by Blagojevich, who was arrested last month and accused of trying to sell the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama to the highest bidder.

"A person who does bad can also do good," Burris said. "And what Governor Blagojevich did was good for the people of Illinois and good for the people of the country, when he exercised his constitutional duties to appoint a person to the vacancy of President-elect Obama. Appointing me to that vacancy certainly is good for the people of Illinois."