Billionaire activist and White House hopeful Tom Steyer on Monday called for Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to cancel Congress’s August recess.
“President Trump is tearing our country apart. His trade wars are taxing American workers. His immigration policies are separating parents from their children. His crimes and corruption are threatening the rule of law. And his racist rhetoric is pitting Americans against each other,” Steyer said in a statement.
{mosads}“The Constitution is very clear: Congress has oversight over the president. So what’s their response? They’re going on vacation for six weeks. Seriously? We’re in a crisis. That’s why I’m asking Speaker Pelosi to cancel summer vacation, and conduct daily public oversight hearings to hold Trump accountable for his crimes, corruption, and racism,” he added.
Pelosi’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Steyer, who entered a crowded Democratic field earlier this month, called on fellow presidential candidates to join his push for canceling recess.
The House is set to begin its annual August recess later this week and return on Sept. 9. The Senate is slated to commence its break on Aug. 2 and return the same time as House lawmakers.
Steyer has made “reforming our broken political system” a key focus of his campaign.
Earlier this month he set out his reform plan that includes setting term limits for members of Congress and cracking down on the influence of money in politics.