Senate Meets For 9 Seconds In Effort To Block Bush Appointment

[Purveyor]

(12-26) 12:53 PST WASHINGTON, (AP) --

The House was quiet as a mouse the day after Christmas. But across the Capitol, the Senate was operating in an unusually efficient manner in its ongoing power struggle with President Bush.

A nine-second session gaveled in and out by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., prevented Bush from appointing as an assistant attorney general a nominee roundly rejected by majority Democrats. Without the pro forma session, the Senate would be technically adjourned, allowing the president to install officials without Senate confirmation.

The business of blocking Bush's recess appointments was serious. It represents an institutional standoff between Congress and the president that could repeat itself during Congress' vacations for the remainder of Bush's presidency.

In such situations, pro forma sessions also could give Bush some political cover on popular legislation he doesn't want to sign. When Congress is holding pro forma sessions and is not formally adjourned, a bill sent to a president automatically becomes law 10 days after he receives it — excluding Sundays — unless he vetoes it.

That could be the fate of two bills Congress passed last week. One growing out of the Virginia Tech massacre makes it harder for people with mental illness records to buy guns. The other makes it easier for journalists and others to obtain government documents through the Freedom of Information Act. The FOIA bill, for example, would become law on New Year's Eve if not vetoed before then, according to Senate Judiciary Committee officials.

---EOE---

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20071226-1253-quicksenate.html

[ThomWV]

1. That should read "Successful" Effort to Block ...

Smart Democrats.

[Xipe Totec]

2. No kidding!

Boy, talk about trying to hide the truth in plain sight.

Effort indeed.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

3. Hurrah for Webb

Once again this guy has forsaken home time with family during the holidays in order to be a snap-jawed bulldog watching BushCo. with eyes that never close. Thanks Jim!

[Berry Cool]

4. It's nice to see someone is doing it!

Now if only the momentum can be maintained.

[tyedyeto]

9. It was maintained during the Thanksgiving break

And now through the Christmas and New Year's break.

Since Webb is close by residentially to the capital, he gets the honors to gavel in the session most of the time.

Go WEBB!!!!

[MonkeyFunk]

10. A few deserve thanks

Webb's taking the duty four times, but Kennedy, Dorgan, Jack Reed, Mary Landrieu, Chuck Schumer and Ben Cardin are all on duty to gavel in a session.

And of course, Harry Reid, who made it happen.

[annabanana]

5. Well. . I could see him wanting cover for that "no guns for the insane" bill

(Since some seem to think that guns & insanity are as American as apple pie).. but I don't understand why he would let a bill through that would make documents MORE available, since his entire administration seems dedicated to shutting everything down.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

14. I think that bill had a lot of Republican support as well.

It could stand to piss off quite a few people in his own party - seeing as they'll be chomping at the bit to get FOIA requests honored under whichever Democrat is President in 2009.

[gristy]

6. Did he have nothing that needed reading into the record?

Nothing? This nine seconds is certainly greater than zero and this is a very good thing. But it also seems pretty silly.

[pnorman]

7. Had Senator Webb thought about it more carefully,

he might have read the US Constitution aloud, or at least the Bill Of Rights. But 9 seconds was still good enough for the purpose at hand. And it was a giant lump of coal in Bush's stocking! THANK YOU, SENATOR!

pnorman

[Nailzberg]

8. Probably had the car running out front.

Gavel it in, adjourn for the day, and zip on back home.

[orleans]

11. 9 seconds? he's getting better at it. wasn't it 27 seconds during

thanksgiving break?

webb--he ain't fucking around.

[kansasblue]

12. He's got to be enjoying the 9 second burn of *

Good man for the job.

[G_Leo_Criley]

13. Thank you ...

Senator Jim Webb!


:thumbsup:

glc