Prometheus 6

"With the Thanksgiving break looming, the administration informed me that they would make several recess appointments. I indicated I would be willing to confirm various appointments if the administration would agree to move on Democratic appointments," Reid said in a statement inserted into Friday's Congressional Record. "I am committed to making that progress if the president will meet me halfway," said Reid, adding, however, that "progress can't be made if the president seeks controversial recess appointments and fails to make Democratic appointments to important commissions."

Senate isn't exactly out of town
The chamber will be briefly back in session to forestall any recess appointments by Bush.
By Noam N. Levey
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
November 18, 2007 

WASHINGTON — This week, as much of the nation enjoys a light schedule and the House of Representatives is in recess, the Senate will twice open for business and each time quickly close. It will do the same next week.

The expected faux sessions will be part of a rare gambit by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to prevent President Bush from making any so-called recess appointments, as presidents sometimes do when a nomination is in trouble in the Senate.

"It's unfortunate that we have to do this, but we couldn't run the risk of the administration ramming through some of their highly controversial appointments while we were in recess," explained Jim Manley, Reid's press secretary.

The Constitution grants the president authority to fill high-level positions without the customary Senate confirmation when the Senate is in recess. Historically, some recess appointments have eventually won the Senate's blessing, including President Theodore Roosevelt's 1902 nomination of Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. to the Supreme Court.

But many presidents -- including Bush and President Clinton -- have used that power to appoint judges and other officials who faced stiff opposition on Capitol Hill.

This year, amid rumors that Bush might use the recess to appoint Dr. James W. Holsinger Jr. as U.S. surgeon general, Reid kept the Senate technically in session.