Why does congress get so many recesses? We've got stuff to do!

[cyberpj]

Didn't they just get BACK from a recess?!?

Monday, July 25
Congress In Session for Final
Week Before August Recess
House on C-SPAN at 12:30pm ET
Senate on C-SPAN2 at 1pm ET

[housewolf]

1. They also have work to do in their home districts...

All those local people they need to contact to raise money to get re-elected....

[cyberpj]

4. so is it a part of every month?

showing my stupidity here...

ON EDIT... FOUND IT:

Jan 4 109th Congress Convenes
Jan 17 - 21 Martin Luther King District Work Period
Feb 21 - 25 President's Day District Work Period
Mar 21 - Apr 1 Spring District Work Period
May 30 - June 3 Memorial Day District Work Period
July 4 - July 8 Independence Day District Work Period
Aug 1 - Sept 5 Summer District Work Period
Sept 30 Target Adjournment

[Bucky]

2. Lately, I breathe a sigh of relief when they go on recess

[katmondoo]

10. Me Too. The only work they do is to screw the American people

every which way possible.

[ck4829]

3. They don't do ANYTHING in Congress

They don't even read the bills.

[FloridaPat]

5. I heard the senators only work 20 hours a week when they're there.

Then they're in charge of their own raises. I'd sure like a job like that.

[cyberpj]

8. And they can't get a minimum wage raise in over 7 years. nt.

[MountainLaurel]

6. Theoretically

I think the purpose, back in the day when legislators held other jobs and it took a week for them to travel back home, was for Congress to have the opportunity to visit their constituents to get their reactions on issues and congressional work, and for them to take care of their own lives -- check on the family business, see that the crops got in, etc.

[cyberpj]

7. Found the schedule - they're ON RECESS UNTIL SEPT 5

Jan 4 109th Congress Convenes
Jan 17 - 21 Martin Luther King District Work Period
Feb 21 - 25 President's Day District Work Period
Mar 21 - Apr 1 Spring District Work Period
May 30 - June 3 Memorial Day District Work Period
July 4 - July 8 Independence Day District Work Period
Aug 1 - Sept 5 Summer District Work Period
Sept 30 Target Adjournment

[housewolf]

11. Yeah, Washington pretty much shuts down for the month of August

it's an old, old tradition - it harkens back to the days before air conditioning. DC gets REALLY hot and humid in the summer, tempers flare, etc. so historically all 3 branches of gov't don't do much in August so they can all "get out of town" for the month.

[BR_Parkway]

9. Back when they followed that quaint notion of actually representing

'the people' they needed to go home to see them and get their views. now they could stay in session and just let all the lobbyists come to them.