Sen Reid Will Limit Senate Recesses to 1 Wk-Making Bush Recess Appts-Impossible

[kpete]

New Senate leader's shortened recesses could cut off Bush judicial nominees

December 3, 2006

BY ROBERT NOVAK Sun-Times Columnist

Sen. Harry Reid, leading the Senate's new Democratic majority, is framing next year's schedule in a way that will make it difficult, if not impossible, for President Bush to give recess appointments to nominees blocked for confirmation.

Reid's schedule limits Senate recesses to one week. Recess appointments usually are made only when Congress has been out of session for at least 10 days. That may kill any consideration of trying to seat federal appeals court judges whose nominations had been stalled even in the Republican-controlled Senate. The downside may be a rebellion by senators if their breaks are held to one week.

A footnote: Bush did not make his difficult course in the Senate any easier when he inexplicably failed to place a congratulatory phone call to Sen. Mitch McConnell on his election as Senate Republican leader. The president did call the new minority whip, Sen. Trent Lott. After McConnell revealed the presidential snub in an interview, Bush called him.


http://www.suntimes.com/news/novak/157503,CST-EDT-novak03.article

[Skidmore]

1. Awww. Mitchie got his feelings hurt after all that loyal soldiering

he did in the trenches.

Sen. Reid, you're doing good work.

[Zambero]

44. The diehard Dixiecrat gets a * call, but not Mitchie boy

Geez, is the new minority leader not conservative ENOUGH to warrant a call from Dear Leader?! Perhaps Mitchie needs to one-up Trent, and go on a rant about how the abolition of slavery has hamstrung economic growth in his neck of the woods?

[Sapphire Blue]

2. K&R. Give 'em hell, Harry :D

[Hubert Flottz]

3. Harry knows what to do with Bush's Mitch!

LMAO! Poor Mitch...

[patricia92243]

4. The American people want their representative to WORK. One of the disgraceful things about the Cong

Congress is how little they have met this year - less than 100 days, I believe.

I know they need to meet with the people in their districts, but a week here and there will be enough. As it is now, this is just an excuse for not working.

Their boss - Bush doesn't work - and his followers have taken their lead from him. This has to stop.

[mcg]

13. There shouldn't be any recesses,

federal agencies don't take recesses, businesses don't take recesses, why should Congress?

[KAT119]

15. Totally agree mcg.

[bobbolink]

22. "Why should Congress?"

Well, for starters, all the others you mentioned don't have to travel home to be in touch with their constituents.

My Rep. has townhall meetings during recesses. My senator doesn't, and that ticks me off.

After all, they *are* paid to represent us, and we need to have access to them in order for that to happen.

Long recesses? Of course not.

But Congress isn't a "federal agency".

[mcg]

25. Thanks for the explanation, the recesses aren't supposed to be

excuses to goof off, but to allow them to communicate with their
constituents, who they are supposed to represent (not lobbyists).

[Larry Allen]

34. Congessional recess based on 18th century travel restrictions.

Any representative can communicate with constituents any day of the week. They could read their e-mail. They could respond to e-mail. They could make
statements on or off the floor which could not be ignored by the media. I suspect that communicating with constituents is a euphanism for raising money.

[Hippo_Tron]

40. Actually that used to not be the case, post World War II Congress has been in session much longer

I think the 109th Congress met for the fewest days of any congress since World War II.

I'm okay with a few recesses but the level that the GOP run congress got to was ridiculous.

[bobbolink]

53. So, email, letters, etc., is all????

If you read my earlier reply, you would see that one of the things they do (if they are good reps!) is hold townhall meetings when they are in their home districts. That is NOT the same thing as letters, and serves a very important function. It constitutes what we call "democracy".

I would suggest you find out if your rep & senator have townhall meetings, attend and ASK them about recesses!!

[unpossibles]

52. well, either that, or give us equal recesses...

I would not mind having a mandatory week off here and there like when I was in school.

[marmar]

5. Awesome....

Start putting the hammer down on this mofo. :nopity:

[Kelly Rupert]

6. This is why I love Reid.

He's a parliamentary tactician.

[madokie]

18. I agree

[mzmolly]

20. Pelosi and Reid are making an incredible "team."

:toast:

[NovaNardis]

54. And Novak is such a dick

'Senators may revolt if their breaks are cut to a week.' Any American would kill to work the hours of a Senator. And to think their hours are ACCEPTABLE is insane. Go Harry. If not to force Bush to play by the rules, this will force the Senate to actually WORK, hopefully on some really issues, not Schiavo stuff.

[Richard Steele]

7. It's a GREAT move, but I doubt it will stop B*sh.

The article says, "Recess appointments usually are made
only when Congress has been out of session for at least 10 days."

Now, that "usually" there has me wondering if this "ten day recess rule"
is really a RULE, a LAW, or just another Congressional TRADITION.

If it's just a tradition, have no doubt that the Little DictatorTot
will just ignore it whenever it suits him.
And if it really is a LAW, he'll just issue a "signing statement"
claiming that he now he "interprets" it to mean whatever he wants it to.

B*sh and his merry band of thugs only follow
rules and laws when it suits them.

[bryant69]

9. It's a hard needle to thread

Because it's a direct challenge to Congresses power, and a direct insult to Congress. While many senators would happily go along with that, some wouldn't - and with a slim majority of Democrats it wouldn't take too many pissed off republicans to make things tough for Bush.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Richard Steele]

14. I hope you're right about that.

As you say, the DIRECT challenge to Congress' power is
something that even a few Repubs may take exception to.
Especially after the last election has made it clear
that being a B*sh-supporter is NOT an asset at re-election
time.

[gratuitous]

10. I tend to agree with your analysis

But there are still one or two Republican Senators who understand their role in the advise and consent process, and who take the Constitution seriously. Along with the Democratic majority, they may make it a little more difficult for Chimpy to govern as he wishes. We'll see. I hope we're both wrong.

[librechik]

33. yeah, Jr does a lot of things that aren't USUALLY allowed

Senate rules have changed drastically under Jrs rule, to promote one party domination. Let's see if we can undo that first.

[formercia]

8. Junior is such an arrogant asshole

he loves to torment his staff. It must be sheer hell working for him.

Look for lots of tell-alls when he leaves.


Always be kind to those on the way up so they will be kind to you on your way down.

[KoKo]

11. Good on Harry Reid for this! Major Applause.....Fighting Back!

:applause:

[FredStembottom]

12. No phone call from W?

Just enjoy it!:freak:

[in_cog_ni_to]

16. Recess appointments usually are made only when Congress has been out of session for at least 10 days

What's to stop him from appointing people within the week? I don't doubt for a SECOND he would do that. In fact, I expect him to have nominees lined up and ready to appoint whenever he can.

[ToeBot]

41. If it's just convention to wait 10 days, there is no doubt that Bush will ignore it...

The arrogant ass would wait all of 5 minutes if he knew he was being bellicose. I would assume there is some sort of bylaw regulating these appointments. Then again, 'bylaws are made to broken', these are Republicans after all.

[mainegreen]

45. Nothing. If congress recesses for just one day, he can do it.

There is precedent for this.

[tom_paine]

17. Fight Dems...FIGHT!

Damn, it's good to see stuff like this!

[brer cat]

19. Could * do a recess appointment to replace Bolton

during Dec. holiday recess? Maybe that's why Bolton resigned rather than wait out his term. :shrug:

[williesgirl]

21. Harry, this is brilliant even if asshole * takes advantage of even 1 day in recess.

[caligirl]

23. OMG! What a way to push campaign finance reform! real

work day requirements for a change. What will repugs think? Harry is given'm hell.

[stillcool]

24. my first bit of bright 'news'...

in a while. Keep chipping away, Harry.

[usregimechange]

26. Is this why Bolton Bolted?

[wiley]

27. Give em Hell Harry!

Excellent, dude. Get some work out of them!

[lonestarnot]

28. Eeek Novakula had to report some facts.

K & R

[EvolveOrConvolve]

29. A rebellion? A fucking rebellion?

So the Senate may have to actually work and earn the hundreds of thousands of dollars we're paying them. Fuck them. Anyone who can't survive with only 4 weeks of vacation time, especially in a job as important as this, doesn't deserve to be there.

They want a rebellion? How 'bout we rebel against the lazy turds and throw their lazy asses out of office because of their lazy work habits?

[Marie26]

30. Smart move by Reid

He doesn't trust Bush for a second.

[Larry Allen]

31. A very brave and determined stance by Reid.

But we are still waiting for Harry to point out that the torture bill was in fact pocket vetoed by Bush despite his phoney signing ceremony.

[Botany]

32. Senator Reid knows the rule book backward & forward

Betya "Little Lord Pissy Pants," is having a tantrum over this.

[LynneSin]

35. They make almost $200k, they should work more than 96 days a year

Thank you Harry Reid!

[1932]

36. When they're recessed in DC, they're often back in their states working.

This is going to make it more difficult for the senators in AK and Hawaii. But it's a great move. It shows the Dems care.

[LynneSin]

38. So how was Rick Santorum working if he was with his family in Virginia?

The only working these repukes were doing was to raise campaign money from their K-street cronies.

[Selatius]

37. This is fucking bullshit. They threaten to rebel for only having breaks 1 week long???

"The downside may be a rebellion by senators if their breaks are held to one week."

Are these guys not making enough money that they have to bitch when they can't also get time off of work more than one week long? God, they are out of touch.

You know what? How about these guys work with only 2 weeks off a year and then come back and bitch about not having enough time. How about they also work on just the minimum wage and then see how whiny little bastards they are the next time the issue is brought up?

[beltanefauve]

50. Who says

there might be a rebellion amongst the Senators?

I saw no quotations in that article, nor did I even see the usual, "Some say" or, "Sources say". Sounds to me like Novak had to inject a little theater and drama into the piece. And if some Senator did grumble to the media about having to do more work, wouldn't that only be to their detriment?

[crispini]

39. Oh, good show Harry Reid!

Bravo! :applause:

[confludemocrat]

42. Plus, make them work 5 days a week like the rest of us, goddamnit!

And don't give me that stuff about this hurting them in their need to fund raise, this will affect everyone the same way and if they don't raise more money-fine

[npincus]

43. All- right!!!!

:patriot:

[liberal N proud]

46. So we will go from a Congress who was never there to one that actually is going to be present?

Excellent, the salaries these people make, they should be required to report to work every week for the entire term. They will have time for vacations when they retire from office after a couple of terms.

[Old Smokey]

47. good move

[geiger]

48. cool

[RiverStone]

49. This is EXACTLY the stuff the DEMS need to do...

To begin to move towards checks and balances in what has been a rethug theocracy.

I hope we will see many similar examples of the will of We The People on election day being put into action. GO Harry!!!!:applause: :kick:

[goforit]

51. BRILLIANT!!!!

[cooolandrew]

55. Like the sound of that, sounds likes dems do mean business 07 should be fun

[orleans]

56. gasp! you mean the senate will actually do some work for a change? n/t

[MADem]

57. The president did call the new minority whip, Sen. Trent Lott

Geez, wonder what he called him....after he hung up the phone??

There's no love lost there. The Monkey oughta be VERY afraid...revenge is a dish best served cold.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

58. Brilliant! nt