Senate GOP Already Set to Block Trump on Recess Appointments

All the speculation raging about whether President Donald Trump will try to use a recess appointment to replace Attorney General Jeff Sessions is moot — Senate Republicans have long been committed to blocking it, the Washington Examiner reported.

Using pro-forma sessions, all it takes is for one Republican senator to quickly gavel in the chamber and gavel out — no business is conducted.

"The whole thing takes 20 seconds," said Cornell Law professor Josh Chafetz told The Washington Post.

Therefore, technically, the Senate is never in recess — which has to last 10 days for the president to be allowed to make an appointment.

"Junior senators long ago picked two dates when they're on the hook to be in D.C. to gavel in and out," a GOP senator told the Examiner, adding that Republicans made a pact in January to not let Trump make any recess appointments.

Sen @BenSasse on the floor to POTUS: "If you're thinking about making a recess appointment to replace the attorney general, forget about it"

— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) July 27, 2017

Even if Republicans changed their mind — unlikely given the climate surrounding Sessions — Senate Democrats would insist on pro-forma sessions before adjourning.

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