Burris Says He'll Be Sworn in to Senate Seat Thurs

"Roland Burris has a great reputation in Illinois as an elected official, over time, statewide, and I believe he will bring that record and his skills to this office and soon become his own man," Durbin said.

Illinois U.S. Senate appointee Roland Burris gestures, right, during a news conference in Chicago,...

Illinois U.S. Senate appointee Roland Burris gestures, right, during a news conference in Chicago, Monday, Jan. 12, 2009. U.S. Senate leaders announced earlier Monday they'll accept Burris as U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's Senate successor and expect to swear him in soon. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

(AP)

Of the flap surrounding Burris' naming, Durbin said, "Now we're beyond it. I think he's going to be a very good United States senator, and I look forward to serving with him."

The top Democrats had initially tried to dissuade Blagojevich, who faces criminal charges, from making an appointment and suggested that his pick would not be seated. Last week, Burris' credentials were rejected in a circus-like atmosphere that tarnished the opening day festivities of the new Congress.

But Reid and Durbin said they anticipated that Burris would be seated this week, barring objections from Republicans. They made the announcement after Burris lawyers delivered to the Capitol documents certifying his appointment to Obama's seat, and the secretary of the Senate determined that the paperwork met Senate requirements.

In an interview on MSNBC, Burris reiterated that he had made no deal with Reid not to run for a full Senate term in 2010 in exchange for being allowed to take his seat in the chamber now.

He said he would work in the Senate to win approval of Obama's economic stimulus package in the hope that the measure would help the economy and create jobs. "I would like to see thousands of jobs created in Illinois and millions of jobs created in the country," Burris said.

Reid and Durbin said they were satisfied both with the documents and with Burris' testimony before the Illinois House impeachment panel that he did nothing wrong.

Even though Burris does not stand accused of wrongdoing, Senate Democrats rejected Burris last week, only to quickly backpedal after Obama himself privately weighed in and senators fretted that the situation was diverting their focus at a critical time.

Asked on NBC's "Today" show if his service in the Senate could still carry a taint because of Blagojevich's legal problems, Burris said he didn't think so.