DeLay tactic? Does the HOUSE usually take the month of January off?

[AnnInLa]

www.talkingpointsmemo.com

A TPM Reader gave me a heads-up on this a couple days ago. And it turns out he was right.

Recently I told you that any chance Tom DeLay has of regaining the Majority Leader's post was to have his case in Texas close to some resolution in January -- before dissidents in the House GOP caucus could force new leadership elections.

That seemed very likely to happen when lawmakers came back to DC mid-January.

Of course one way to give The Hammer a bit more time is just not to let members of the House come back.

And that appears to be what they've decided to do.

According to Roll Call (sub.req.), Hastert and Blunt plan to keep the doors to the people's House closed until January 31st, the day the president is scheduled to give his State of the Union address -- which of course is given in the House chamber.

[tx_dem41]

1. PLEEEZE!!!! Let them do this!!!

Please, please, please, please, please!!!!!!

What a PR disaster this is going to be for the Repubs.

[patdem]

2. Is that legal? Like a bank cannot have those 4 day shut downs..can

the house shut down..even while we pay them to work? Seems like a slap in the face to the voters! :shrug:

[Debi]

3. they always take a summer and winter (and fall and spring) break

but this seems a little longer than usual!

Also (in defense of members of Congress who do work for their pay) they don't punch a time card or work nine-to-five Monday through Friday. The competent members of Congress have their home numbers listed in the telephone book. They are up early and stay up late. They try to visit each county in their district and have as much one-on-one time with constituents as they possibly can. Just because a member of Congress is not in D.C. does not mean they are not working.

However, there are some who don't work for their pay....