Mitch McConnell Faces the COVID-19 Crisis By Going On Vacation

Pennsylvania Avenue and 7th Street SE, Washington DC

On Thusday, the Senate Republican leadership decided to go on their paid summer vacation, euhemistically called “August Recess,” without agreeing on a new COVID-19 relief bill.

“”If the speaker of the House and the minority leader of the Senate decide to finally let another rescue package move forward for workers and for families, it would take bipartisan consent to meet for legislative business sooner than scheduled,’ Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday.

The reality is that any senator, including the roughly 20 members of McConnell’s own conference who are of the belief that enough action has already been taken to respond to the pandemic’s economic consequences, could block action before Labor Day.”

— “Senate breaks for August recess with no coronavirus deal in sight,” Niels Lesniewski, Roll Call

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Congress Is 0n Vacation. Like It Was All Year Long.

The 113th Congress is taking a five-week recess after the exhausting labor of not passing hundreds of bills, and is among the least productive in history. Of course, Congress only spends three days a week in DC even when it is in session, spending the other four back home collecting campaign funds for the next election, a practice euphemistically called “meeting with constituents.” They’ll be back September 8th for a dozen workdays, then adjourn until after the election in November.

This Congress was so ineffective that even the protesters didn’t bother to show up.

 More:

“Congress jets to five-week recess,” Peter Sullivan, The Hill

“Congress Off for the Exits, but Few Cheer,” Jonathan Weisman and Ashley Parker, New York Times

“Congress continues its streak of passing few significant laws,” Drew DeSilver, Pew Research Center

“As Congress Breaks, Inaction Remains Most Notable Action,” David Welna, NPR

 “From Now Till Election, Congress to Make Itself Scarce,” Caitlin Huey-Burns, Real Clear Politics

“Jon Stewart blasts Congress for taking unearned vacation,” Joanna Rothkopf, Salon

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Comments are welcome if they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not boring or obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.

Congress: How We Spent Our Summer Vacation

The National Journal‘s Michael Catalini spent his summer vacation cataloging what legislative leaders did on theirs.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV): “Put Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame!”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): Watched his aide Jesse Benton holding his nose.

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL): Compiled an “Enemies List.”

Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX): Got put on the Enemies List of FreedomWorks.

House Speaker John Boehner (R, OH-8): Played golf with Donald Trump.