Recess Appointments - Has anyone in Congress talked about tightening up

[Poiuyt]

the ability of the president to abuse this power? If not, they should.

[MonkeyFunk]

1. It would require a

constitutional amendment.

But I just wrote my Senators urging them to sponsor a Senate Resolution denouncing this appointment, and to call hearings that would require Fox's attendance every day for the next year and a half.

[Gabi Hayes]

3. what the FUCK happened to THIS?

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Reid_plan_may_kill_future_Bush_1204.html

''A plan engineered by "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to eliminate all extended recesses except for the traditional August break during the 110th Congress may have an added benefit for Democrats," Roll Call reports.''

and, do you know how many of these appointments this stupid jackwad has made?

compare it to the number Clinton made

and here's a comment from James "Einstein" Inhoffe made when Clinton made one of his FEW recess appointments:

" has shown contempt for Congress and the Constitution."

I'd love to have somebody ask him if he feels the same way about Bush's lousy, stinking appointments....do ya think?????

[MonkeyFunk]

4. Sadly,

I don't see how the Congress could do anything about it. It's in the constitution. Granted, the constitution doesn't specify a time-limit, but neither does it enable Congress to set one.

[Gabi Hayes]

5. this is what I'm talking about. guess they wussed out. not that it would matter to B#(#%^%

Sen. Harry Reid, leading the Senate's new Democratic majority, is framing next year's schedule in a way that will make it difficult, if not impossible, for President Bush to give recess appointments to nominees blocked for confirmation.
Reid's schedule limits Senate recesses to one week.

Recess appointments usually are made only when Congress has been out of session for at least 10 days. That may kill any consideration of trying to seat federal appeals court judges whose nominations had been stalled even in the Republican-controlled Senate. The downside may be a rebellion by senators if their breaks are held to one week.


http://www.suntimes.com/news/novak/157503,CST-EDT-novak03.article

they could get serious, and do a staggered deal, maybe. dunno what the quorum thing might mean AFA keeping the Senate technically in session.

[MonkeyFunk]

7. except

there's precedent for using the recess appointment during a break as short as one day (Teddy Roosevelt did it).

[DeSwiss]

8. The time-limit is...

...at the end of the next session.

Article II, Section 2

"The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session."

From a technical point of view, I'm not sure this recess appointment qualifies since it refers to "Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate..." Its my understanding that this vacancy preceeded the recess....

Just sayin'
:shrug:

[MonkeyFunk]

10. sorry

by "time limit" I meant the length of the recess during which such an appointment could occur. Probably a poor choice of wording on my part.

[Gabi Hayes]

12. exactly! where are the RW strict constructionists? they should be outraged

by this abrogation of the LETTER OF THE LAW!

according to Slate, this is what happened, in a nutshell, and both parties have 'abused' this clause:

''The provision was originally created to fill vacancies that actually occurred during a recess, but it has since morphed into an all-purpose executive tool to counter Senate intransigence.''

http://slate.msn.com/id/1002994

Slate Explainer thanks Professor Brannon Denning of the Southern Illinois University College of Law, Samuel Bagenstos of Harvard Law School, and Lin Larson of the University of Iowa.

[rcsl1998]

2. Abusers

The problem is that the Repuplics and this administration always abuse (not use) any and all power, law, loophole available. Win at all costs...

[pigpickle]

6. The worm will turn.......

.......when we take back the Presidency. Then it'll be their turn to have it crammed down their throats.

[walldude]

9. Yeah.. if we live that long...

it's obvious this crazy asshole thinks he answers to no one, and he's got Iran in his sights.

Welcome to DU btw :toast:

[INdemo]

11. This appointment he just made was an

in your face Congress...because he actually had withdrawn his name because there was no chance of confirmation..And this guy is being rewarded for the swift boat donations

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/04/04/bush.ambassador.ap/index.html