Washington, Jan 7 - by Joseph Ryan, Daily Herald

Illinois' D.C. lawmakers found their state the target of considerable ribbing Tuesday in the halls of Congress, as the media questioned Senate appointee Roland Burris in the fallout of the scandal engulfing Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

"There is a lot of material there," said U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam of Wheaton, noting the jokes going around the House. "You feel like everyone is coming up with a Saturday Night Live punch line. It is pretty merciless."

Illinois' delegation was seated Tuesday at a time they should be the center of attention for having the incoming president from their home state. Instead, they face questions about the level of corruption in the Illinois as Blagojevich faces impeachment and nightly TV ridicule.

"Illinois is clearly the center of the universe," said U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo after being sworn in to his ninth 2-year term representing the 16th District. "In two weeks we will have a president from the state of the Illinois and we will probably have an incompetent and crooked governor."

But the humiliation may not be the only problem for Illinois' congressional delegation. Some fear the governor's scandal may threaten Illinois' chances at landing billions of federal tax dollars to build roads and transit projects that would create tens of thousands of jobs.

President-Elect Barack Obama is pushing Congress to pass a major tax break and public works spending plan in the weeks after his inauguration on Jan. 20. That package, now estimated at about $750 billion, could include big bucks for Illinois.

"Ultimately the question comes down to how should money be allocated and that is where the taint of the governor's office will be a serious disadvantage," says Roskam, who was sworn in for his second term representing the 6th District.

Manzullo agrees.

"Whatever Blagojevich touches he spoils and we can't have him in there. He is really hurting the state of Illinois," the Rockford Republican said.

State lawmakers hope to oust Blagojevich by early February through impeachment.

Yet, one could argue Illinois has perhaps the most clout in the nation with the incoming administration. On top of Obama - a Chicago Democrat - the head of the U.S. Department of Transportation is slated to be Ray LaHood, a former Republican congressman from Peoria.

And in the Senate, Springfield Democrat Dick Durbin sits in the second highest post. The majority whip was sworn in for his third 6-year term Tuesday.

U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, a Highland Park Republican sworn in Tuesday for his fifth term representing the north suburban 10th District, says despite the taint he believes Illinois will still get what it needs if the delegation works for it.

"My gut is," Kirk says, "is if (Mayor Richard Daley) calls, he will get what he wants."

Meanwhile, the suburban delegation started Congress' 111th session with one noticeable shift Tuesday - one more Democrat.

Former state Sen. Debbie Halvorson was sworn in for her first term in the 11th District, taking over the south suburban seat from retiring Republican Jerry Weller.

Other suburban Democrats include U.S. Rep. Bill Foster of Geneva, who starts his first full-term representing the 14th District; U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean of Barrington, who enters her third term in the 8th District; and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Evanston who begins her sixth term in the 9th District.