SPRINGFIELD - The spectacle of Roland Burris being barred from joining the U.S. Senate could have been avoided, Illinois Republicans said Wednesday after Democratic leaders balked at seating the former Illinois attorney general until the Illinois Supreme Court rules on a procedural matter.

State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, said the Democratic actions Wednesday reinforce the claim Illinois Republicans were making all along: Illinois should have had a special election to fill President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.

"It's not about Roland Burris," Brady said. "It's not about anything other than a scandalous party whose governor has been arrested and continues to give him the power to make this appointment."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Wednesday the Senate will wait and see whether the signature of Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, which White has withheld, is needed for Burris to take the seat. The state high court's decision could be made by the end of the week.

White told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he is being unfairly blamed by the Senate and his signature is "mostly ceremonial."

Burris was appointed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich in the midst of scandal surrounding the embattled governor. The 71-year old Democrat was denied a seat by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday but appears to be inching closer to becoming Illinois' junior senator.

State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, said he thought Burris would only fill the remaining two years of Obama's Senate term. He added that everything happening in Washington this week was purely political.

"The political side of it changed and there was a lot of criticism from minority groups and criticism from some senators," Luechtefeld said.

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna said a special election would eliminate reservations people might have about a senator appointed by Blagojevich.

"When people hear suggestions of backroom deals, they wonder what is happening," McKenna said. "We're saying take all of that away and go to a special election."

Burris denied there was talk from Democratic leaders on a commitment not to run for a full term in 2010 in exchange for his seating this year.

jason.nevel@lee.net / (217) 789-0865