House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris (R-MD) is calling on Senate Republicans to take a 10-day recess during the lame-duck period in order to give President Donald Trump time to make recess appointments ahead of Democrats taking control of Congress in January.
“If they don’t want to spend all 52 days, that’s fine. Let’s take a 10-day recess so the president can make some recess appointments that can last for a year,” Harris said during a House Freedom Caucus press conference on Wednesday.
The Freedom Caucus is also urging House GOP leadership to adopt their ambitious legislative blueprint for the lame-duck session. Topping the agenda is enacting voter ID legislation, passing a ban on stock trading, and codifying the Trump administration’s border policies.
“Republicans should not leave town until these priorities are completed and Democrats are denied every possible leverage,” Harris said.
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Harris and the Freedom Caucus also want to see the Senate “confirm as many presidential nominees as possible in the Senate.” But given the short legislative calendar, the group is pushing recess appointments as a potential path forward.
Recess appointments allow the president to skirt around the confirmation process and appoint officials to positions temporarily.