Senate Democrats “agreed Wednesday night to a Republican demand to block President Obama from making recess appointments while Congress is out of town campaigning for the midterm elections,” The Hill reports.
Democratic leaders have agreed to schedule pro-forma sessions of the Senate every week over the next six weeks, a move that will prevent Obama from making emergency appointments, according to Senate sources briefed on the talks.
[…]
Under the law, the president can only make a recess appointment if the Senate is adjourned for more than three consecutive days.
By scheduling pro-forma sessions on Mondays and Fridays, lawmakers can take away Obama’s ability to make recess appointments.
Why?
Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) had threatened to send Obama’s most controversial nominees back to the president if Democrats did not agree to schedule pro-forma sessions, according to a senior GOP aide.
Senate rules give McConnell this power.
That would have forced the president to resubmit the nominees to the Senate and Democrats to start their confirmation processes (including hearings) all over again.
McConnell sent a batch of nominees — including five controversial judicial nominees — back to the White House in August.
His move was seen retaliation for Obama’s decision to give Donald Berwick a recess appointment to serve as the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
A full session with legislative work will not resume until November 15.
(credit image – daylife/associated press)
Congress in Your Pocket
I find it pretty laughable that any Senate Democrat really believes McConnell and the Republicans are going to hold up their end of this “deal” on not sending back Obama’s nominees if they retake the Senate.
Sounds like CYA for the Banker Dems.