GOP Senators to McConnell: Address 271 Trump Nominees, Get Budget Done or Skip Summer Break

[Swordsmyth]

Conservative senators have sent a letter (https://www.perdue.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Senators%20Call%20On%20Leadership%20To%20Make%20Co ngress%20Work%20Again.pdf) to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) demanding that lawmakers confirm President Donald Trump’s 271 outstanding nominations and pass a spending bill before the August recess or skip the break altogether. “We continue to witness historic obstruction by the minority party when it comes to funding the federal government and confirming the president’s nominees,” the letter said. “If we are complicit we are on the track for another last-minute spending battle come September.”
“However, if we take action now, we can break the cycle of continuing resolutions and omnibus spending deals,” the letter said. “Therefore, we want to offer our full support to expedite floor consideration, even if we must work nights and weekends and forgo the August recess to get it done.”
Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) spearheaded the letter, which was also signed by Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Dean Heller (R-NV), Ron Johnson (R-WI), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).
“President Trump said he would never sign another massive omnibus bill again,” Perdue told Breitbart News. “Congress only has 66 days to get next year’s funding bill to President Trump’s desk.”

“We need to take action now so President Trump is not jammed with another bad funding deal,” Perdue said. “We ought to work as long as it takes – including nights, weekends, and through the August recess if necessary – to get funding done and make progress on the backlog of nominees.”

“At this pace, it is unlikely the president will have all of his nominees confirmed before the end of his term,” the letter said.

More at: http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/05/11/gop-senators-to-mcconnell-address-271-trump-nominees-get-budget-done-or-skip-summer-break/

[spudea]

I've always wondered this. Can the president exercise his power to call a special session of congress and declare no breaks till they get their work done? What happens if a representative ignores this executive power?

[TheCount]

They won't skip their break or accomplish anything meaningful. Doing nothing and then campaigning is the better option for the mid terms. If they actually legislated they open themselves up for criticism.

[oyarde]

I've always wondered this. Can the president exercise his power to call a special session of congress and declare no breaks till they get their work done? What happens if a representative ignores this executive power?

I would just let everyone go on break and then appoint who I want and get them on the payroll immediately . Then mail out letters to most agencies they are terminated and have the capital police lock them out and removed from payroll .

[spudea]

I would just let everyone go on break and then appoint who I want and get them on the payroll immediately . Then mail out letters to most agencies they are terminated and have the capital police lock them out and removed from payroll .

democrats are blocking recess appointments as well. I don't think Trump has been allowed a single recess appointment....

[loveshiscountry]

..

[Swordsmyth]

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has issued a statement (https://twitter.com/SenateMajLdr/status/1004051004378185728/photo/1) canceling the August recess, "due to the historic obstruction by Senate Democrats."
https://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2018-06-05_10-31-11.jpg
McConnell Statement:

“Due to the historic obstruction by Senate Democrats of the president’s nominees, and the goal of passing appropriations bills prior to the end of the fiscal year, the August recess has been canceled."
"Senators should expect to remain in session in August to pass legislation, including appropriations bills, and to make additional progress on the president’s nominees"
But there may be an ulterior motive to McConnell's decision.
By way of background, Politico reports (https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/16/mcconnell-august-recess-senate-592080) that a group of more junior senators are publicly urging McConnell to cancel recess to get the Senate’s work done - and to keep 10 vulnerable Democratic senators off the campaign trail. A group of 16 senators sent McConnell a letter (https://www.perdue.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Senators%20Call%20On%20Leadership%20To%20Make%20Co ngress%20Work%20Again.pdf) this month urging him to cancel the regular summer break.
Politico noted that if McConnell were to cancel much or all of the August recess, Republicans could find themselves short of votes to pass nominations or bills. With Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) out of work battling cancer, Republicans currently only control 50 votes, so any absences could be decisive. Vulnerable Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) will also want to be at home campaigning.
Still, the Senate election map is so tilted against Democrats that merely threatening to cancel the recess could prod them to cooperate, lest they lose critical days on the stump.
So now McConnell has made the gamble - we will see if it works to keep Democrats from their midterm campaigning or backfire with even more gridlock and/or failed nominations and bills.


https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-06-05/mcconnell-cancels-august-recess-due-historic-democrat-obstruction