Dem leader says GOP obstruction imperils summer break

Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) said the August
recess is at risk because of Republican obstruction of Wall Street reform and
executive branch nominees.

Durbin told reporters Thursday that Senate Majority Leader
Harry Reid (D-Nev.) warned his colleagues this week during a private meeting of
the possibility of working over the August recess, when the Senate generally
leaves Washington for a month.

After blocking an effort to begin debate of the Wall Street
reform bill for weeks, Republicans have allowed roll-call votes on only three
amendments.

{mosads}Senate Republicans have also stalled progress on 96 of President Barack Obama’s
nominees. Senate Democrats complain that at a similar point in former President
George W. Bush’s first term, only 20 nominees were held up in the Senate.

“The fact we are in the second week of this bill, three
amendments into it, is an indication of problems to come, including
jeopardizing the August recess,” Durbin said. “Sen. Reid announced that this
week at the caucus [meeting].”

Reid has warned colleagues to wait on scheduling any trips
during the first week of the August recess, which begins on Aug. 7.

Democratic leaders would undoubtedly face resistance from
their own members for canceling or even shortening the recess, given that 2010
is a campaign year. Many Democrats facing tough races will want to spend as
much time in their states as possible as Election Day nears.

Durbin said Senate Democrats plan to pass the Wall
Street reform bill and a package of extenders, such as a year-long extension of
unemployment insurance and a freeze in proposed cuts to doctors’ Medicare
payments, by Memorial Day.

But Republican delaying tactics have jeopardized that
schedule. A legislative backlog would threaten floor time for a comprehensive
energy and climate change bill and immigration reform this summer.

“At this point he has told us to be careful about the first
week and if this continues, it may extend into more of the August recess, which
we all value as a time to be with our families,” Durbin said of the likelihood
of working into the August recess.