Rigell, other first-termers ask Senate to delay recess

Posted to: News Politics
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By Bill Bartel
The Virginian-Pilot
© July 14, 2011

WASHINGTON

U.S. Rep. Scott Rigell of Virginia Beach is leading a group of fellow Republican freshmen asking Senate leaders to put off their planned four-week recess in August and stay in Washington to hammer out a budget before the fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

A letter sent Wednesday to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., by 28 legislators was critical of the Democrat-controlled Senate for failing to draft its own proposed budget or to consider the appropriations bills approved by the House, which is controlled by Republicans.

The Senate is scheduled to be in recess from Aug. 8 through Sept. 5.

"At the pace the Senate is progressing, this is not nearly enough time for Congress to consider and, ideally, pass the bills prior to the start of the fiscal year," the lawmakers said in the letter, drafted by Rigell.

Rigell said time is running short if Congress is to avoid a repeat of last year, when lawmakers failed to approve a spending plan before the start of the new fiscal year. In late 2010 and early 2011, legislators approved a series of continuing resolutions to temporarily fund government operations before agreeing in April to a 2011 budget.

The House's proposed 2012 budget proposal, which seeks deep spending cuts and an overhaul of Medicare, received no votes from Democrats in the House and was rejected by the Senate.

Rigell said that if the Senate were to pass its own budget proposal, the two chambers could begin negotiations in time to reach a deal before the fiscal year begins.

"The roadblock is clearly the Senate," the letter states. Keeping the senators in session until they pass a budget plan would "be a clear, and we believe welcome signal."

Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com

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is it just me.....

Submitted by Gertz Point on Thu, 07/14/2011 at 7:41 pm.

Is it just me or is Scott looking more and more like George W Bush every day??

You should note that Obama

Submitted by DuppyConqueror on Fri, 07/15/2011 at 5:18 pm.

You should note that Obama voted against raising the debt ceiling while Bush was president.

Interesting aye?

my bad

Submitted by Gertz Point on Sat, 07/16/2011 at 11:06 am.

Rigell is looking more like Thelma Drake

How exactly? The only thing

Submitted by DuppyConqueror on Sat, 07/16/2011 at 12:45 pm.

How exactly? The only thing similar is the letter after their name.

"the letter after their name"

Submitted by David Campbell on Mon, 07/18/2011 at 9:40 am.

Rep. Drake voted with the Republican Party 97% of the time and Rigell voted with the Republican Party 90% of the time.

Ah, what a tangled web we weave

Submitted by OliverWHomey on Thu, 07/14/2011 at 2:32 pm.

I wonder if they've sent the same letter to John Boehner and Eric Cantor. I'm guessing not. The House is digging it heels in far more than the Senate. Rigell and his Tea Party cronies don't want the Senate to go on recess because they want to deprive Obama of the opportunity to make recess appointments. The Grand Obstructionist Party strikes again.

It's really sad

Submitted by Lost_Sailor on Thu, 07/14/2011 at 3:16 pm.

That half of the political appointees are recess appointments. Do you really want a president that purposly circumvents the constitution just so he can put socialists, communists, tax cheats, crooks, and racists in a position of authority? I can't believe people still believe and back this liar in chief that is runnin, I mean ruining our once great nation.

Its really sad

Submitted by David Campbell on Fri, 07/15/2011 at 8:42 am.

that Senate Republicans have tried to impede the work of the Executive branch by preventing consideration of even non-controversial appointments.

When President Bush made 171 recess appointments, did he "circumvent the constitution?"

For your information, recess appointments are authorized by Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution: “The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session."

My Bad!

Submitted by OliverWHomey on Thu, 07/14/2011 at 8:30 pm.

I forgot that the American Bar Association will only give its highest rating to federal judge candidates who meet all of those criteria you listed. Communist? Check. Tax Cheat? Check. Racist? Check.