Question: Can Obama make Congress STAY HOME and not go on vacation?

[HopeOverFear]

until they get healthcare reform done?

[PretzelWarrior]

1. no. but where the F*** is Reid on this whole issue?

[Eric J in MN]

3. The president has the consitutional power to convene sessions of Congress.

The Constitution says of the president, "he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them."
http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#A2Sec3

[scheming daemons]

6. It would be very hard to argue that passage of Health Care is an "extraordinary occassion"

[Eric J in MN]

9. Not really. People die from lack of health insurance. NT

NT

[Eric J in MN]

2. 'In theory, the President could call Congress into special session'

Quote above from:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/gibbs-obama-may-ask-congressional-leaders-to-delay-recess-if-they-fail-to-meet-health-care-deadline.php

The Constitution says of the president, "he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them."
http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#A2Sec3

[HopeOverFear]

4. whoa wouldn't it be sweet if Obama did that???

[BlooInBloo]

5. Yes.

[WI_DEM]

7. Yes, he could call congress in special session which President Truman did after the Dem convention

in 1948 to pass his program. I think Obama should do it--or threaten to.

[PretzelWarrior]

8. at the state level, the budget hawks always rail against the cost of special sessions

so in our deficit spending environment, there's no way he's going to incur extra costs just to drag them from August recess.

[LynneSin]

10. As much as I want this done yesterday I also want it done right the first time.

I dont' want another "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. And I use that as an example because that whole debate seemed rushed because we were so insistant on doing something right to protect gays in the military that we ended up with a really shitty law.

[lunatica]

11. It's actually better for them to go home

Because they have to face their constituents when they're home. And they can see first hand how many foreclosures there are and how many people are out of jobs and how the local services are straining, especially the emergency rooms in hospitals because people don't have health care. They can see empty stores and boarded up businesses. The homeless are less invisible when you have to look at them. THey can listen to the local radio stations and watch the local news.

[havocmom]

12. EXACTLY

So be sure and greet your congressional delegation with your problems stemming from health care costs.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

13. they can stay here and getting the pressing things done before going to the beach!