Senate may cancel recess after Obama scolding

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

/ AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

Senate Democrats will consider canceling the Senate's week-long July 4 recess scheduled for next week in the wake of the president's harsh words for Congress over its regular trips away from Washington.

At a press conference Wednesday, Mr. Obama called for members of Congress to "cancel things and stay here" in Washington if there isn't "substantial progress" by the end of the week on a deal to raise the debt limit.

He complained that members are "in [session] one week, they're out one week."

"You need to be here," he said, directing his comments at members. "I've been here."

The House of Representatives has been off eight weeks this year so far, and is scheduled to leave again the week of July 18. The Senate is scheduled to be out of session next week and recesses for one month starting August 6.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada plans to discuss cancelling next week's break with the Democratic caucus late this afternoon. It could be difficult to cancel on such short notice, however, because many members have obligations back in their states and trips planned. In a release Wednesday afternoon, Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky called on senators to stay in Washington next week.

[hhandyman]

Simple put congress on minimum wage till they balance the budget with out a sipend for thier health care let them pay for it like the general public and they will learn empathy for the people that work with their hands for a living..
No paid vacations and no stipend outside of the states. any ride paid for by those on the aircaft based on real costs. Only ride on gov aircraft if you pay for the fuel and any ammenities provided like oxygen if at high altatude.

[Liberty_in_MA]

Gotta love the way CBS panders to the progressive idiots on the left.
The Republicans are the ones who first suggested staying in DC over the weekend, but according to CBS it's the Democrats and that "work til' ya' drop" socio-communist Harry Reid who thought up the idea.
"...Obama scolding"? It looked like more of the same old class warfare espousing, gay bashing, race baiting, Bush blaming, tax n' spending, do nothing but play golf and go on vacation Obama to me. This guy couldn't lead if he was in a one man parade.

[stn_sage]

In the wake of expanding the death and destruction in the Middle-East, of expanding the national debt and unemployment,
and not keeping any of his campaign promises, BO is the LAST
person who should be criticizing Congress! As, he's no better.
But, he has a point...Congress is a bunch of freeloaders!
It's getting to the point where they are away only a little
less than they are actually in 'D.C.', doing the public business!
Vote them out, folks!

[pasha128]

by naksuthin June 29, 2011 4:18 PM EDT
"The House of Representatives has been off eight weeks this year so far"

HOW MANY MONTHS A YEAR DO POLITICIANS HAVE OFF???

----------------------

Actually Speaker Boehner's schedule for the House of Representatives was to work only every other week. Full time pay and benefits for part (half) time work.

[Palrak]

It's just an empty political move, nothing more. It's Wednesday, and they recess Friday. Kinda late notice, dontcha think? I read an article on another site this a.m. which reported some of the Congressmen are going to Europe. More squandering of our tax dollars.

I think the recesses in both chambers are unnecessary and excessive.

[hvaughan]

what utter nonsense. You have swallowed the unbaited republican hook./ There are many fools out there who don't know which way is up

[sjc_1]

Bush spent 1/3 of his time away. President Obama takes one week vacation and Republicans are upset. Try not to be such hypocrites.

[technocoffee]

Good for you, Mr. President--he has tried to cut taxes on those who make less than 250,000 in Oct 2010, but the GOP members blocked THAT, he is trying to get taxes on the wealthiest raised because of Bush bankrupting the country by slashing them (not to mention his Iraqi War of Lies costing trillions) but the same GOP members who voted to keep raising the debt ceiling under Bush are now pretending they'd NEVER do such a thing!! All while they get government healthcare & subsidized EVERYTHING-from parking to gym memberships, all paid by us taxpayers--lazy, hypocrites who want Obama to fail so badly, they don't care about our country failing.....

[sjc_1]

The Republicans insisted that $300 billion in recovery money go to tax breaks for business. There is NO evidence that created any jobs. The roads, bridges and schools however DID create jobs and we can prove it.

[Liberty_in_MA]

@techno - If you recall, Obama did not specifically target just income producers over 250K, his plan was to simply let the Bush tax cuts expire (as did Pelosi and Reid). Do a little homework on what those tax cuts were and you'll see that it was middle income earners who benefitted the most by the Bush tax cuts, not the $250K earners or the Uber Rich who actually just got several new inheritance tax cuts under Obama. Add to the Bush tax cuts the earned income tax credit, and you can actually MAKE MONEY by earning less. There is a direct financial benefit in Federal money if you can hold your income down below a certain level. How's that for class warfare?


Another useful idiot.

[ZunarJ59]

Says Mr. "I wore out Air Force One in 2 years".

[naksuthin]

"The House of Representatives has been off eight weeks this year so far"

HOW MANY MONTHS A YEAR DO POLITICIANS HAVE OFF???

If we are going to cut the budget, I suggest we start by cutting their salaries. Or maybe pay them by the day. That way if they go fishing they won't be doing it on taxpayer money.

They may not realize it but there is a deadline to raise the debt ceiling.