Harry Reid Will Ask Obama To Recess Appoint All Nominees If GOP Delays Continue

[babylonsister]

Jennifer Bendery
Harry Reid Will Ask Obama To Recess Appoint All Nominees If GOP Delays Continue


WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) fired a warning shot to Republicans on Friday: Stop blocking President Barack Obama's executive branch nominees or I'll ask him to bypass the Senate and recess appoint all of them.

"If something doesn't break here, I am going to recommend to the president he recess appoint all these people, every one of them. It's not unique. The power to recess appoint is in our Constitution," Reid said on the Senate floor. "These are the president's nominations and he should have the right to have these people working in his administration."

Reid then proceeded to read through a list of stalled executive branch nominees and, just to make the point that Republicans have no intention of letting them advance, he objected to all of them himself.

"Every one of these I'm going to reject on behalf of the Republicans," he said. "How do you like that?"

Reid's comments came shortly after Republicans told him they would object to the confirmation of nearly 70 noncontroversial executive branch nominees that Democrats planned to bring up for a vote. Reid warned that he'll be watching for "significant action" in clearing that list in March, and if that doesn't happen, he'll recommend to Obama that he recess appoint all of them when Congress adjourns in April. "I mean, I can ask if I want and he doesn't have to respond affirmatively -- but I'm going to ask him to appoint them all," he said.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/17/harry-reid-obama-recess-appointments-gop-delays_n_1285309.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009

[bahrbearian]

1. Whats the point of doing it now, should have appointed them last year.

[bluerum]

2. Better late than never.

At.least there will be potential allies in office during the elections.

[spooky3]

3. is it in the best interest of the public for Reid's advice to be followed? YES.

that alone is justification enough.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Would be nice to do them all next week

when they are off (once again).

[steve2470]

5. a question about the pro forma sessions

I'm assuming, perhaps wrongly, that Congress will be in pro forma session in April. Let's say President Obama does the right thing and does all those recess appointments. Could it stand up in court if the crazy Republicans sued ?

[BumRushDaShow]

6. They were in pro forma during Christmas/New Year's breaks

when he did the last appointments and declared the whole "pro forma" declaration null and void. It was a risk but what else could one do?

[steve2470]

7. good point ! nt

[BumRushDaShow]

11. It was the first time that was done since

the practice was started under Shrub. The repukes huffed and puffed and threatened when he did it, but haven't come back to it... at least yet.

[Redstate Bluegirl]

8. Hear hear!

F##k the G Obstructionist P...

[rhett o rick]

9. This is bull crap. Why is he threatening? How well do threats work? I think you only threat

if you are bluffing. Dont warn them Harry, just do it.

[justiceischeap]

14. I think Harry is making the case

for when the recess appointments happen, they were warned to do their jobs and neglected to do so. It's a classic case of CYA (cover your a**)

[rhett o rick]

16. Yes, I see your point. I just hope there is follow thru. nm

[Kingofalldems]

10. Repubs are nothing more than vandals

Recess them! Hah!

[Tx4obama]

12. Here's a LIST of the nominees that the GOP objected to today

Prior to the adjournment of the Senate, Republicans objected to Senators Reid’s request to confirm the following nominations on the Executive Calendar:

List here: http://democrats.senate.gov/2012/02/17/senate-republicans-object-to-confirming-nominations-on-the-executive-calendar/


Note: Even though the word 'adjournment' is used in the text above, the Senate is NOT in an official 'recess'.
They will be having Pro-Forma Sessions every three days while on break. (So, there won't' be any recess appointments anytime soon)

Pro-forma schedule:
The Senate will meet on the following date and times for pro forma sessions only with no business conducted:
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 12:00pm and
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 11:00am.
http://democrats.senate.gov/2012/02/17/schedule-for-monday-february-27-2012-and-pro-forma/

[BumRushDaShow]

13. "They will be having Pro-Forma Sessions"

The Pres. negated that practice last month with his CFPB & NLRB appointees during their winter break when they were in pro forma... This doesn't mean he won't continue to do it but it may be the beginning of the end of it due to the egregious lack of progress for the Senate to even hold confirmation hearings let alone act on any nominees...

[The Genealogist]

15. "nearly 70 noncontroversial executive branch nominees"

This is ridiculous. OK, I know the republicans have a very, very, very narrow set of morals that they impose on everyone but themselves. I can understand applying their absurd litmus tests. But this is "nearly 70 noncontroversial executive branch nominees" . No controversy! No problemo! Or it should be. But no, the republicans are obstructing and throwing temper-tantrums, the way a screaming child who doesn't want to get in the back seat when it is time to run errands or go to school or the doctor. They must be so proud of themselves. I wish the "librual media" would show just how childish they act, and not resort to that "show both sides of the issue" aka "show the republican view in good light, Democratic in bad light, no matter what."

Call in the waaaahmbulances, stock plenty of cheese to go with those whines, and get the government working right again. They owe it to the American people.

[Surya Gayatri]

17. About freaking time, Harry! n/t