What officials are saying about Burris' appointment

Following is reaction to Gov. Rod Blagojevich's appointment of former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to the state's vacant U.S. Senate seat.

"I've known Roland Burris for a long time and I think he is a qualified public servant. I think it is unfortunate for Roland's part because if Pat Quinn had appointed him it would be a whole different matter."

State Rep. John Bradley

D-Marion

"Is (Burris) going to run again or is he going to be a placeholder for two years? Is the U.S. Senate going to seat this person? There are a lot of questions left unanswered with this."

State Rep. Brandon Phelps

D-Harrisburg

"There's no telling what the governor's going to do on a day-to-day basis."

State Sen. Dale Righter

R-Mattoon

"We hate to be the ones who told you so, but we told you so,"

State Rep. Dan Brady

R-Bloomington

"I still think the idea of an appointment is inappropriate. I think it creates fodder for the late-night TV shows."

State Sen. Dan Rutherford

R-Chenoa

"It's an appointment that is covered with taint and smacks of continued bad policy."

State Sen. Bill Brady

R-Bloomington

"It might be an exercise in futility; I don't know."

State Rep. Pat Verschoore

D-Milan

"I don't think anyone can figure (Blagojevich) out."

House Minority Leader Tom Cross

R-Oswego

"This is business as usual by the Democratic Party of Illinois. It's just stunning to me."

State Rep. Chapin Rose

R-Mahomet

"I think he did it for self-serving purposes. He's trying again to insert himself in a way that really is not serving the people of Illinois."

State Rep. Bob Flider

D-Mount Zion