A list of accomplishments of Roland Burris are seen Thursday, Jan. 9, 2009, carved on a mausoleum waiting for him in a South Side cemetery in Chicago. It could soon include "U.S. Senator," although that last entry might need an asterisk. Burris, 71, is not shy about touting his decades of accomplishments or advancing his name, but his appointment by embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich to fill President-elect Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat is saddled with political baggage. AP Photo logo AP Photo 10 months ago

A list of accomplishments of Roland Burris are seen Thursday, Jan. 9, 2009, carved on a mausoleum waiting for him in a South Side cemetery in Chicago. It could soon include "U.S. Senator," although that last entry might need an asterisk. Burris, 71, is not shy about touting his decades of accomplishments or advancing his name, but his appointment by embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich to fill President-elect Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat is saddled with political baggage.

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  1. WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 09: Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL) (L) talks with a supporter after a news conference about health care reform with members of the Congressional Black Caucus at the U.S. Captiol September 9, 2009 in Washington, DC. CBC member Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee (D-TX) said the push for health care reform is a 'repeat of the civil rights movement.'
  2. FILE - In this Nov. 3, 2009 file photo Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill. is seen during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington. On Friday, Nov. 20, 2009, the Senate ethics committee admonished Burris for making "inconsistent, misleading or incomplete" statements about the circumstances surrounding his appointment to the seat once held by Barack Obama. The committee didn't recommend any punishment.
  3. CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 02: U.S. Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL) gives an address on healthcare reform at Stroger Hospital November 2, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. Burris was voicing his support for a public option in healthcare reform during the address.
  4. CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 02: U.S. Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL) fields questions from the press following an address on healthcare reform at Stroger Hospital November 2, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. Burris was voicing his support for a public option in healthcare reform during the address.
  5. CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 02: U.S. Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL) gives an address on healthcare reform at Stroger Hospital November 2, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. Burris was voicing his support for a public option in healthcare reform during the address.
  6. CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 02: U.S. Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL) talks with healthcare professionals following an address at Stroger Hospital November 2, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. Burris was voicing his support for a public option in healthcare reform during the address.
  7. Indonesian activists wear masks featuring US President Barrack Obama (L), Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (2nd L), President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso(2nd R) and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd during a protest against biodiversity offset programs, in Jakarta on November 18, 2009. Scores of environment activists held a protest against the program of biodiversity offset as they believed that biodiversity offsets are conservation activities intended to compensate for the residual, unavoidable harm to biodiversity caused by development projects, and is not the real solution and will ruin ecological dignity of developing countries.
  8. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: In this photo illustration, a copy of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' sits on end on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  9. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Gary Haynes (R) and Matt Cross (L) open boxes of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' as other books sit on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  10. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Matt Cross (R) puts copies of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  11. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Gary Haynes (R) and Matt Cross (L) put copies of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  12. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Gary Haynes (R) and Matt Cross (L) put copies of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  13. WESTERN SPRINGS, IL - SEPTEMBER 16: Indicted former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (C), stands outside St. John of the Cross church following the funeral service for Christopher Kelly, one of his former top fundraisers and advisors, September 16, 2009 in Western Springs, Illinois. Kelly, who had been indicted on charges related to Blagojevich corruption case, was scheduled to report to prison this week after pleading guilty to other offences. Kelly committed suicide on Saturday.
  14. WESTERN SPRINGS, IL - SEPTEMBER 16: The remains of Christopher Kelly, one of indicted former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's top fundraisers and advisors, are carried from St. John of the Cross church following his funeral service September 16, 2009 in Western Springs, Illinois. Kelly, who had been indicted on charges related to Blagojevich corruption case, was scheduled to report to prison this week after pleading guilty to other offences. Kelly committed suicide on Saturday.
  15. WESTERN SPRINGS, IL - SEPTEMBER 16: Indicted former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (L), his wife Patti (R) and their daughters Amy (rear) and Annie watch as the funeral procession for one of his former top fundraisers and advisors Christopher Kelly leaves St. John of the Cross church September 16, 2009 in Western Springs, Illinois. Kelly, who had been indicted on charges related to Blagojevich corruption case, was scheduled to report to prison this week after pleading guilty to other offences. Kelly committed suicide on Saturday.
  16. WESTERN SPRINGS, IL - SEPTEMBER 16: Indicted former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (L) and daughter Amy watch as the funeral procession for one of his former top fundraisers and advisors Christopher Kelly leaves St. John of the Cross church September 16, 2009 in Western Springs, Illinois. Kelly, who had been indicted on charges related to Blagojevich corruption case, was scheduled to report to prison this week after pleading guilty to other offences. Kelly committed suicide on Saturday.

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