Reid cites 'legal authority' to bar Illinois pick

WASHINGTON Jan 4 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on Sunday that "legal authority" exists under the U.S. Constitution to bar embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's pick to fill President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat, but said there is also room to negotiate.

Under the Constitution, Reid said, "We determine who sits in the Senate. And the House (of Representatives) determines who sits in the House. So there's clearly legal authority for us to do whatever we want to do. This goes back for generations."

Speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press," Reid said he plans to meet with Blagojevich's choice for the Senate, Roland Burris, 71, the former Illinois attorney general, a fellow Democrat. Asked if there was room for a possible settlement, Reid said, "I'm an old trial lawyer. There is always room to negotiate."

(Reporting by Will Dunham, Editing by Sandra Maler)