Reid Calls For Pro Forma Sessions, Clears Dozens Of Executive Appointments

By John Bresnahan

(The Politico)  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has announced that he will call the Senate into pro forma sessions every several days during the upcoming winter recess in order to prevent President Bush from making recess appointments.

Reid explained that he and Josh Bolten, the White House chief of staff, were not able to reach an agreement to prevent Bush from giving a receess appointment to Stephen Bradbury, the actiing head of DOJ"s Legal Counsel, and without that agreement with the White House, Reid refused to allow the Senate to recess for three weeks.

As it stands now, Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) or some other Democrat will come in every couple days, gavel the Senate into session, and then immediately adjourn. This will block Bush from using his recess-appointment authority.

Reid, though, said he would clear 60 Republican nominations before the Senate adjourned today, plus another eight Democratic nominations.