November 20, 2007

Not So Fast On That Recess...

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is making sure the White House won't have anything to be thankful for these next couple of weeks.

The House has adjourned until Dec. 3, but Reid announced that he will keep the Senate in a "pro forma" session throughout the scheduled two-week Thanksgiving break after being informed that several recess appointments by the Bush administration were likely.

So, who are the lucky senators charged with trudging back up to the Hill while their colleagues are back home enjoying turkey and the fixins?

The Los Angeles Times reports that since they had planned to remain inside the Beltway for the holidays anyway, Democratic Sens. Jim Webb of Virginia, Byron Dorgan of North Dakota and Jack Reed of Rhode Island will gavel the body open and then closed two days out of each week.

Democrats say they have cause for concern. During the August 2005 recess Bush slipped in John Bolton as U.N. ambassador, and in April of this year he made three other controversial recess appointments. Meanwhile, Democrats also complain that their nominees for seats on bipartisan panels have been ignored by the executive branch.

But even members who are returning to their districts and states find themselves with the obligatory "homework." CongressDailyPM (subscription) reports that both parties' conferences have given their members "recess kits" instructing them on talking points to use with constituents. Democrats plan to highlight Republicans' failed defense and domestic policies, while the GOP will focus on a "broken Congress" thanks to Democratic leadership.

Posted at 12:10 PM
Posted to: Bush Administration, Congress, Senate
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