Why is Congress going on a 5 week recess?

[OliverQ]

The country is burning to the ground, Democracy looks to be coming to an end, and Congress is taking a 5 week vacation?

[Funtatlaguy]

1. The Repubs all have time shares in Moscow in August.

[JI7]

2. because it's easier for the congress person to get back to their district to meet with their

constituents than for their constituents to go to dc to meet with their members.

[Vinca]

3. Don't all employees get 5 week vacations??

[watoos]

4. That's just summer vacation,

Congress only works a little over 100 days a year.

Tom Steyer is right, Speaker Pelosi should cancel summer vacation. If Reps want to hold a town hall hold it on a Saturday.

[StarfishSaver]

31. This isn't a vacation

I've worked on the Hill. Trust me. Recess ISN'T vacation. It is an opportunity for the Members and staffs to actually get some real work done, meet with constituents, see first hand what's going in the district, etc., without the crazy pressures of running back and forth to the floor for votes and other proceedings, prepping for and conducting numerous committee hearings (often simultaneously), back-to-back-to-back meetings, and the general madness of life on the Hill when Congress is in session.

I used to enjoy it when constituents came to visit us in Washington because they always left with a much better understanding of how hard their Member works and a real appreciation for having them in the District during District Work Periods.

[Recursion]

8. Do you think recess is "vacation" for Congresspeople?

Do you just not like them going back to the district and hearing from the people they represent?

[watoos]

18. Yes - No

They can go back on Saturday.

My Rep. is Glenn Thompson, Pa., a methane breathing, oil drinking worthless prostitute for the oil and gas industry.
I wouldn't cross the street to spit on his alligator shoes.

My district is gerrymandered, I will always have an (R) for a Rep. I never vote for the person who wins.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

26. If your district is more than a few hours' driving distance from DC,

Saturday isn't going to cut it. If your district is in California, your rep will have to spend five hours in the air each way. If you include getting to and from the airport and waiting around, they can figure on at least twelve hours' travel time for the round trip. How are they going do that, plus meet with constituents, on a single Saturday?

[StarfishSaver]

33. Sigh

And the same people whining about them not spending every waking moment in Washington will turn around and bitch about the Members being "out of touch" because they're "stuck in the Beltway."

Damned if they do and damned if they don't.

It would be nice if people spent less time complaining and more time learning just what a Member of Congress does - among other things, they'd learn that voting and attending committee hearings are only one part of the job. But since that's the part they see on cable news, people who think reality is only what is on the teevee naturally believe that anything other than that is just "vacation."

[Lars39]

5. When are all the town halls scheduled?

First few weeks of town halls with constituents demanding impeachment and Pelosi might cut the recess short.

[Recursion]

10. The recess period is negotiated between the House and Senate

And agreed upon shortly after the Congress convenes.

[Lars39]

15. Thanks! Didn't know that.

[Igel]

24. I work with the public.

I have one "town hall" a year.

However, I spend a lot more time dealing with my "clients" than I spend in that "townhall". Townhalls are good for optics. They're good for bullying. They're good for campaigning and PR. Not so good for actually explaining issues or collecting information or dealing with problems.

I'd rather my representative meet with local politicians, local business groups, and be open for dealing with concerned individuals where they look over details and facts than at a townhall where a reporter is ready to report on any misstep or even having the representative say, "Sorry, there are 200 issues and while yours is important for you, I'm sure, it's something that affects nearly nobody and which can better be handled by somebody else."

[Lars39]

25. Thanks for spelling that out.

Sounds a bit like holding court.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

28. most folks have forgotten that there are good politicians

People have seen and heard so many rotten politicians (see, e.g., Nunes, Gowdy, McConnell, King, etc.) that they sometimes forget there are good ones. A good politician has to find a workable compromise amongst multiple, competing interests while weeding out damaging or crazy ones.

[StarfishSaver]

35. True

When I was working on the Hill, I often encountered people who were very quick to tell me "they're all crooked!" etc. So, I'd ask them, "Exactly who are you talking about? Which ones are crooked and which ones aren't doing anything?" And they'd usually respond "ALL of them."

So, I'd get specific. "I work for X. Are you saying MY boss is crooked? What exactly have they done wrong? And since I'm the Chief of Staff, you must think I'm crooked, too. On what basis are you accusing me of being a criminal?" Of course, they had no answer other than something along the lines of "Well, I don't mean YOUR boss, exactly. I just mean politicians in general!"

It's very popular these days to sit around trash-talking politicians because people think it makes them sound coolly jaded. But I find that when you boil it down, the trash-talking is really based on ignorance, not knowledge or political savvy.

[alphafemale]

6. Tradition for August.

Dating back to pre-AC. No need for it to continue, except that time back in their districts is also important.

[underpants]

11. Yes August is dead in DC at least politically

At least it used to be. We'll get a month of Trump tweeting and grandstanding solo

Presidents also usually take a long break during this time.

In close proximity, the only thing worse than August in DC is August in Williamsburg (VA). Both are surrounded by swamps and it gets pretty sticky. Grew up just down the road from The 'burg. Ungodly humid.

[nitpicker]

12. And fundrai$ing

Although it's an off-year, all House seats are up for election in Nov 2020 (as is a third of the Senate). In some districts, the big event is the primary (if there is a challenger) versus the general election (for example, the inner suburbs of VA are reliably blue, versus UT reliably red). Some view this as a chance to build the warchest.

Also, to increase favorable local press coverage.

[Igel]

22. "Districts" also means "families."

Time-clock and contract workers complain about being away from their families when their employers or jobs require it. However, many object strenuously when others enjoy what they deserve and don't get. Sort of "you can't have a cow unless I have a cow" thinking.

[Lulu KC]

7. It's not a vacation

though this is when they would schedule one. They'll be home. We are waiting to talk to them.

[Recursion]

9. Because they need to spend time in their districts?

I've never understood this reaction. Recess is when they go back to their districts and talk with the people they represent. That's a good thing.

[malaise]

13. Nadler says they won't be on a five week recess

They will be in the courts sorting out matters related to no shows following subpoenas.

[StarfishSaver]

34. He said that plenty of work gets done during the recess - including the court fights

That's because recess ISN'T vacation - it just means they're not holding votes or committee hearings. Plenty of other work gets done during this time.

[Tipperary]

14. Because they can?

[global1]

17. What About Recess Appointments?.....

Do the Dems need to worry about recess appointments?

[Celerity]

36. Rump has his fellow Russian traitor in full control of the Senate, he doesn't need RA's nt

[StarfishSaver]

37. No. Recess appointments are only necessary when the Senate won't confirm a president's nomininees

And this Senate would confirm Barron Trump as Secretary of State if his Daddy told them to, so there's no need for any recess appointments.

But also, the Senate recesses only in name, only - usually they stay in session technically, but just don't conduct any legislative business. They often do this just for the purpose of not having certain things occur that could only occur during a recess.

[watoos]

19. 5 weeks to fund raise.

[WhiteTara]

20. So you can go to their offices directly

and tell them what you think to their faces. Don't miss this opportunity to press for what you want. Bring family, friends and give a stranger a lift to go to the office with you. Let's use this time to our advantage. Remember what happened with health insurance votes? We won by showing up. We could again if everyone did they job of fighting back. Nancy can't shoulder the whole affair, we need to help her for impeachment to work. Let's GO
We have 95 Democrats and counting. Almost half way there and one month to get the rest on board.

[spanone]

21. According to Axios it's a historically long 46 days

Speaking of August recess, the House's upcoming 46-day summer break is historically long, and could seriously decrease the chance Dems eventually move to impeach President Trump, writes the WashPost's Paul Kane.

"Filling that void became more important after Wednesday’s testimony from Robert S. Mueller III landed without much drama."
"Even Democrats who viewed Mueller’s appearances positively now think that they have to work extra hard to build public support for beginning impeachment."

Why it matters: "Some Democrats had hoped that Mueller’s testimony would have been compelling enough to create a liberal echo to the 2009 August recess, when conservative activists flooded town halls to oppose the emerging Affordable Care Act and other large-spending items from the early days of the Obama administration."

https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-am-696b6670-d8b5-463b-9687-8e8476029549.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&stream=top

[Igel]

23. Knew a guy who went to work 4, 5 days per year.

He worked 6-day weeks.

Not everything needs to be done in an office. In fact, his official office was in Seattle, he lived in New York State, and spent far more time in his native Chile than in Washington State.

Heck, he spent more time wherever he and his wife went on vacation each year than he did in Seattle.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

27. My rep, Ilhan Omar, is back in her district.

She is not on vacation.

[qazplm135]

29. recess does not equal vacation

they aren't going to Aruba.

[Fiendish Thingy]

30. They are going back to their districts, holding town halls

This recess is the perfect time for constituents to contact their reps, in person if possible, and tell them to push for opening an impeachment inquiry.

[VOX]

32. Louie Gohmert needs some time with Ol' Blue, his pet armadillo

*bud-dum-chee* Thank you!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

38. Impeachment won't happen unless the voters are behind it.

That's what happened to Nixon - he resigned because he was about to be impeached, and he was about to be impeached because his approval ratings had dropped to about 25%. The House Judiciary Committee would not have passed their three articles of impeachment with the knowledge that the full House would vote for them unless they were assured the voters were with them. Right now a majority of the public does not favor impeachment, and until they do, a majority of Democrats will not favor it either. It all begins with the voters and not with the House. So, if you want at least a start to the impeachment process, take this recess period when your rep will be home, and let them know in no uncertain terms what you want. Direct contact instead of emails and petitions nobody reads will be what gets the job done. Constituent contact is what the recess is for. Take advantage of it.