SPRINGFIELD - 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.

"He will be a great United States senator," - Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

"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.

"I think it's pretty wise politics. I just think the governor was wise to do something. It shows he can still act," - State Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline.

"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.

"Sen. Watson continues to be disappointed that there won't be a special election to fill this seat," - Patty Schuh, spokeswoman for Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville.

"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 don't think anyone can figure (Blagojevich) out," - House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego.

"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.

"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.