The U.S. Senate will not have its traditional month-long recess or “state work period” this August, according to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who called it off on Tuesday.
Instead, senators will be expected to return to Washington after the first week in order to just plain get more done, not least of which involves confirming a number of Trump appointees to various administration spots.
A statement from the lead Republican in the upper chamber puts the blame squarely on Democrats for the backlog of work to be done:
“Due to the historic obstruction by Senate Democrats of the president’s nominees, and the goal of passing appropriations bills prior to the end of the fiscal year, the August recess has been canceled. Senators should expect to remain in session in August to pass legislation, including appropriations bills, and to make additional progress on the president’s nominees.”
But in truth, it’s also in Republicans’ interest to try to eke out a few more policy wins before the 2018 midterm elections.
The GOP can try to run on historic tax cuts, an increasingly strong economy for workers, and a repeal of the individual healthcare mandate, but it would be a boon to those facing tough reelection races to land another legislative victory sometime before November.
