WASHINGTON, D.C. - Just as Barack Obama was checking out his new digs in the White House Wednesday, another African-American Democrat from Illinois was getting into the swing of his new job on Capitol Hill.

With the nation's capitol winding down from the hubbub of Tuesday's inauguration festivities, U.S. Sen. Roland Burris engaged in several meetings with fellow Democrats and constituents.

On the fifth floor of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, temporary staffers tried to get his office up and running.

As a testament to his newfound position and his lack of staffing, a call to the office at 9 a.m. was answered by a recording that said the voice mailbox was full.

Burris was sworn into the Senate Jan. 15 by former Vice President Dick Cheney. He cast his first vote that day in favor of the release of the second half of the $700 billion financial bailout.

His rise to a seat in the Senate after more than a decade of failed attempts to win public office. Burris caused a firestorm of controversy by accepting the appointment to Obama's vacant Senate seat from impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Burris' fellow Democrats initially balked at letting him have the seat because of Blagojevich's legal woes.

Now that Democrats have dropped their public opposition to the former state comptroller and attorney general, Burris is poised to serve out the remaining two years of Obama's term.

It's not clear what kind of senator he'll be because Burris has had little opportunity to explain his political philosophies amidst the controversy over his appointment and the attention on Obama's inauguration.

As a former statewide office holder, the 71-year-old former lobbyist didn't have to vote on issues like he will as a senator.

Millikin University political scientist Mark Wrighton said the lack of a voting record on key issues facing the new Congress could be an argument for ending the appointment process and instead holding special elections to fill vacant seats.

"With an appointment, you have to rely on the judgment of the sitting governor," Wrighton said. "That is what engendered the controversy in the first place."

Around noon Wednesday, Burris' sparsely furnished office was occupied by three staffers, at least two of whom were there on a temporary basis.

The blue-carpeted suite was formerly occupied for a time by Fred Thompson, a former senator from Tennessee, who made a short-lived bid for the Republican nomination for president in 2008.

Interviews for employees were underway and a receptionist was referring callers with problems to Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin's office.

Along with casting his first few votes, Burris is poised to be formally named to committees on homeland security, veterans' affairs and armed services.

Burris was seen at several inaugural related events, but didn't stop to talk long with reporters. On Wednesday, no one from his office responded to repeated requests for an interview.