U.S. Senators will not be getting to spend a few weeks of August either on the campaign trail or on summer vacation. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced today he was canceling the August recess, putting the onus on Democrats.See Also: Shocker: McDonalds will have self-order kiosks in all stores by 2020
Due to the historic obstruction by Senate Democrats of the presidents nominees, and the goal of passing appropriations bills prior to the end of the fiscal year, the August recess has been canceled. Senators should expect to remain in session in August to pass legislation, including appropriations bills, and to make additional progress on the presidents nominees. |
Utah Senator Orrin Hatch almost immediately gave a hear hear to the announcement. Senator Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he was okay with no recess, but wanted the Senate to handle
health care? Look if the Senate wants to completely get rid of Obamacare, the exchanges, the 1948 NRLB ruling which said health benefits had to be part of union negotiations, and other health care-related requirements of doctors and hospitals, Id be cool with it. Of course, thats not what Schumer and company are aiming for so Ill be good with getting justice reform i.e. FIRST STEP Act passed during this time period, if they dont get to it beforehand.
There are potential campaign factors in the cancelation too, as noted by POLITICO.
Privately, some Republicans are worried that canceling the August recess will become a regular occurrence. But if there was any year to do it, its 2018: There are 10 Democrats up for reelection in states that Trump won, and just one Senate Republican, Dean Heller of Nevada, who is trying to get re-elected in a state won by Hillary Clinton. By keeping the Senate in session, McConnell will significantly cut down on the time that Democratic senators have to campaign back home, particularly for senators like Jon Tester (D-Mont.) who have lengthy commutes back to their states. In 2016, when McConnells own caucus was facing a number of difficult reelection campaigns, the Senate was not in session in August. |
Ill go with a hard maybe on whether it was a key factor in McConnells decision although Ive no doubt it was a factor. McConnell did cancel part of last years August recess, so its not like hes breaking his own precedent with this decision. The Montana seat is considered a lean Democrat by Real Clear Politics and it depends on who the GOP puts up as Testers opponent in November (the primary is today). Trump does have a pretty high approval rating in Montana, but he also had a high approval rating in Alabama and we saw how that Senate election went last year, so candidates mean everything. The interesting factor in the Montana race is the Green Party and the fact Montana Democrats are trying to get them thrown off the ballot. The Greens see this as Democrats running scared about Testers potential future in politics, while also noting Bernie Sanders won the 2016 Democratic primary in Montana by 10K votes. Its an interesting wrinkle to the entire thing, but Im still going with maybe unless proven otherwise.
Its not really a bad decision to cancel the recess, as long as the Senate works on, and passes, freedom-expanding legislation. Should they not, then its just another episode of political theater, which gets pretty tiresome after the first two-gazillion episodes.