Are the media holding McConnell accountable for shutting down Senate Committees at 2 pm?

[ProgressiveEconomist]

Have any of the media who cover Washington questioned Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell about his decision this week to shut down alll Congressional Committees at 2 pm? Incredibly, an obscure Senate rule requires, EVERY DAY, agreement by both the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader to prevent all but two Committees to work more than two hours 'and in no case after two o'clock postmeridian'?

IMO, this is a classic opportunity for the Fourth Estate to play its traditional role of holding public officials accountable for obvious violations of their duties. It reminds me of Newt Gingrich's decision under President Clinton to shut down the entire government (by delaying an extension of limits on the budget if IIRC) because he had been given a bad seat on Air Force One!

On that occasion, media such as Jay Leno and the cover of the NY Daily News showed Newt no mercy for his comically irresponsibile and childish tantrum.

Has anyone seen any member of the media question McConnell about his bizarre "go home early" decision?

WHAT'S YOUR OPINION?

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From http://rules.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=RuleXXVI :

Rules of the Senate, Rule XXVI.5a: "COMMITTEE PROCEDURE ...

5. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of the rules, when the Senate is in session, no committee of the Senate or any subcommittee thereof may meet, without special leave, after the conclusion of the first two hours after the meeting of the Senate commenced and in no case after two o'clock postmeridian unless consent therefor has been obtained from the majority leader and the minority leader (or in the event of the absence of either of such leaders, from his designee)."

[annabanana]

1. Here at DU is the ONLY place I've seen it mentioned.

What I wonder is why Harry hasn't insisted that everyone come to work ready to go at, say 4am.

[Catshrink]

2. I'm not holding my breath.

Keith & Rachel, maybe, but the rest of the M$M not so much.

[quiet.american]

3. The short answer is "no." If one isn't a "political junkie," one has no idea this is going on.

And that is disgraceful, yet after a couple decades of news as entertainment, completely par for the course.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

9. Agreed. 'Dumbing down' the news perhaps has made this story too complicated

for non-investigative "reporters" to explain--or even, for many of them-- fully understand themselves.

[Skidmore]

4. They are waiting for the drama to build tension before

they can report something more sensational.

[bluethruandthru]

5. This needs to get out just as much as the teabagger violence does.

I'm happy to see the coverage about the violence...but the public needs to understand that republican obstructionism has gone beyond saying "no" to everything. Now, they're blocking/delaying everything by refusing to work after 2pm.

[Bozita]

6. Senate GOPers must be eligible for those unemployment checks. The ones that discourage working.

[Paulie]

7. Start holding the hearings at 2am

If the rules say 2pm, start at 2am. After a week the NOpublicans will relent. Make the old grumpy white men actually WORK.

[FSogol]

8. Why is the GOP Senate getting paid a full days wages when they knock off at 2 pm? n/t

[Cetacea]

10. I haven't seen or heard anything.

[Rabrrrrrr]

11. Of course not. They don't report anything disparaging about Republicans.

And if they were to report on this, they would spin it as a patriotic move anyway.

[hvn_nbr_2]

12. "Fourth Estate to play its traditional role of holding public officials accountable"

That would be its quaint traditional role, from back before CorpoPravda bought the Fourth Estate.