Burris farewell speech: Lack of blacks in Senate 'troubling'

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From: Chicago Sun Times

In his farewell speech, Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.), the only African American in the Senate, said it was “troubling” that when he leaves at the end of the month, there will be no blacks when the new Senators are sworn in next January.

Burris will be replaced on Nov. 29 by Sen.-elect Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) who won election earlier this month to a full six year term starting next year and for the weeks remaining of the original term of President Obama.

In his remarks, delivered at noon to a nearly empty Senate chamber—there were four senators—Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) was not one of them—and about 20 Burris staffers plus Senate staff in the chamber — Burris did not mention the controversy surrounding his appointment by former, impeached and now convicted Gov. Blagojevich. And while he thanked Senate Leader Harry Reid (D-Nv.) and senate staff down to the waiters, Burris did not say anything about Durbin.

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