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Sen. Burris

WASHINGTON — Illinois Sen. Roland Burris attracted a lot of attention, nearly all of it unwanted, when he took office this year thanks to his appointment by former Illinois’ scandal-tarred former then-governor, Rod Blagojevich.

Burris is attracting attention again for his demand that health-care reform include a public option. This time he seems to be enjoying the attention.

His office distributed a Wall Street Journal online piece ^[2] today predicting that Burris is one a half dozen senators to watch in the next round of debate over changes in the health insurance system.

After more negotiations, the Senate will need 60 votes to pass the legislation. With all but 1 or maybe 2 Republicans likely to oppose the legislation, Burris — labeled by the Journal’s Naftali Bendavid as the Wild Card — could pose a key obstacle if the public option remains out of the legislation and Burris sticks to his guns.

Others to key an eye on, according to the WSJ: Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe, the only GOPer who has jumped ship thus far; Maine Sen. Susan Collins, who also could bolt from the Republican fold; and three moderate Democrats — Sens. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Mary Landrieu of Lousiana.

On the Senate Floor this afternoon, Burris, who is not seeking election to his gift job, gave no indication of backing down. He asserted that two companies in Illinois control 69 percent of the health insurance market and that ”they have families in a vice grip and they’re squeezing them for extraordinary profits. They want to maintain their virtual monopoly.”

Burris argued that an insurance industry report released last weekend concluding that premiums would soar upward under Democratic reform proposals had backfired. He added: ”It was meant to be a hatchet job but instead it has reinforced the need for real competition and cost containment in the insurance industry.”