Since the republicans have continued to place holds on all of Obama's nominees without regard to thought or to person, Maj. Leader Reid is finally ready to allow recess appointments.
Reid ready for Recess Appointments
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid used to consider recess appointments "an end run around the Senate and the Constitution" — so much so that he kept the chamber open during breaks to prevent President George W. Bush from making any more of them.
But with a Democrat in the White House, and Republicans blocking executive branch nominees, Reid and his allies are starting to sing a different tune.
Reid said last week that he’s "tried hard" to avoid the need for President Barack Obama to make recess appointments, but he added: "What alternative do we have?
Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) has placed a blanket hold on all of Obama’s pending executive branch nominees — a senatorial prerogative that leaves Democrats unable to confirm nominees without first getting 60 votes on time-consuming cloture motions.
A senior Democratic aide calls Shelby’s move a "perversion of senatorial courtesy" that "makes recess appointments fair game."
All I can say is: "It's about time!" After Shelby's immense perversion of the hold process by holding ALL Obama appointees until he gets his pork, this should be the first thing that they do. If republicans want to taint the "advise and consent" process, then democrats should consider allowing omnibus recess appointments. Now, it is true that republicans have allowed 177 recess appointments in Bush's 8 years, being this obstructive is ridiculous.
It's going to apply for a certain group of nominees, particularly Craig Becker, Dawn Johnsen and some other ones.
Asked whether Obama would consider recess appointments to get around Shelby’s hold, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Friday that the president "will certainly look at all of his options." And Dan Pfeiffer, the White House communications director, said Friday that "every minute spent needlessly blocking noncontroversial nominees" is time that the Senate can’t act on issues of national importance.
So, Reid, act without delay. We should insist upon that.