Obama Can't Make Recess Appointments

Press Release

With the House and Senate passing the Washington debt deal, conventional wisdom would suggest the beginning of August recess. However, thanks to the efforts of Congressman Jeff Landry (R, LA-03) and a coalition of conservatives, Congress will not technically go into recess. The reason: Landry's Coalition is blocking the President from making recess appointments.

"Throughout the August recess, my colleagues and I will preside over pro forma sessions in the House -- preventing Congressional recess and Presidential recess appointments," said Landry, who recently had his amendment to Energy & Water Appropriations bill passed that defunds the salaries of recess appointees at the Department of Energy, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Bureau of Land Management. "We have taken up the call of the American people who want an open, accountable government. And we are ready and willing to take these extraordinary measures in order to return transparency to Washington and sanity to political appointees."

With the House's 238-186 passage of H. Res 375 last week, Congress will meet every 3rdday from August 1stuntil September 6th. The tentative schedule with presiders of the pro forma sessions is as follows: August 9, 2011 -- Congressman Jeff Duncan (R, SC-03), August 12, 2011 -- Congressman Jeff Landry (R, LA-03), August 16, 2011 -- Congressman Jim Jordan (R, OH-04), August 19, 2011 -- Congressman Mick Mulvaney (R, SC-05), August 23, 2011 -- Congressman Jeff Denham (R, CA-19), August 26, 2011 -- Congressman Trey Gowdy (R, SC-04), August 30, 2011 -- Congressman Steve Strivers (R, OH-15), September 2, 2011 -- Congressman Andy Harris (R, MD-01), and September 6, 2011 -- Congressman Allen West (R, FL-22).

Congressman Jordan, Chairman of the Republican Study Committee welcomed the news with thanks. "Recess appointments made sense in the days before air travel and instant communication, but no longer," said Jordan. "I thank Congressman Landry for his leadership in preventing President Obama from bypassing the will of the people and their elected representatives."

When Congress returns in September, Congressman Landry and other members of the coalition will be offering the Landry Amendment to the other appropriation bills -- thus, preventing recess appointees to other federal agencies from being paid.

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