| House Delivers An August Surprise |
| Aug-02-2012 |
| Keywords: congress, no recess, august recess |
The political brinksmanship heated up on Capitol Hill today as the House voted to not take a recess.
In a move to score points with constituents, 187 Democrats and 78 Republicans voted against the resolution to adjourn Congress for a scheduled five-week recess. The final vote was 150-265 against adjourning, all 150 votes in favor of recess cast by Republicans.
According to various reports, the noe votes were cast for a number of different reasons. Some frustrated that the House hasn't passed a farm bill or worked out a deal with the Senate on the extension of the Bush-era tax cuts.
Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) listed a host of issues for voting against the Augusts recess.
"The Republican Majority is prepared to adjourn the House of Representatives to leave for the August district work period without accomplishing what the American people have sent us here to do," she said. "They want us to create jobs. They want us to reduce the deficit. And they want us to do a middle-income tax cut, which the president has suggested and the American people overwhelmingly support."
However Michael Steel, spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), quickly pointed out that Republicans have offered to return from recess once Democrats get serious about the people's business and are less interested in political games.
"House Leaders made it clear earlier this week that we will bring the House back at any time if Senate Democrats act to stop the looming tax hikes or replace the devastating defense sequester with other spending cuts," he told The Hill. "On both issues, the House has acted - so House Democratic Leaders should direct their complaints and comments to Senate Democrats, and President Obama."
No matter the motive, as a result of today's vote, the House and Senate can be expected to hold pro forma sessions throughout the August break. |
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Posted by Lou Dobbs Staff at 4:00 PM Email to a friend |
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