November 15, 2024 15:12 GMT
US: RFK Jr Another Trump Appointee That Could See Recess Appointments Used
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President-Elect Donald Trump has offered Robert F. Kennedy Jr. the senior Cabinet-level position of Head of Health and Human Services. RFK Jr. initially ran for the presidency as an independent, but endorsed and campaigned for Trump after winding up his campaign at the start of October. Kennedy's views on health and healthcare have garnered some criticism. RFK Jr.'s nomination, alongside other Trump loyalists such as Matt Gaetz (AG), Tulsi Gabbard (NSI) and Pete Hegseth (DoD) has seen speculation rise about potentially difficult Senate confirmation hearings. This in turn has seen talk of 'recess appointments' surface.
- Political commentator and former chief of staff for two Democrat senators, Adam Jentleson posts on X some useful info on how recess appointments can work:
- "For a decade or so, the Senate has not been going into recess when it adjourns but pro forma sessions, which can last up to 3 days. [...]. To recess, the Senate needs to pass an adjournment resolution, which is and has always been a majority-rule vote [...]. The House has to approve the Senate's adjournment res, and vice-versa. The Constitution gives POTUS the authority to adjourn both the House and Senate “in case of disagreement between them” about when to adjourn and for how long. [...] The House passes an adjournment resolution, sends it to the Senate and the Senate rejects it, thus setting up the “disagreement” that triggers POTUS adjournment authority. At this point, the Senate would be in a formal recess and Trump could theoretically appoint as many officials as he wants."
- "For a decade or so, the Senate has not been going into recess when it adjourns but pro forma sessions, which can last up to 3 days. [...]. To recess, the Senate needs to pass an adjournment resolution, which is and has always been a majority-rule vote [...]. The House has to approve the Senate's adjournment res, and vice-versa. The Constitution gives POTUS the authority to adjourn both the House and Senate “in case of disagreement between them” about when to adjourn and for how long. [...] The House passes an adjournment resolution, sends it to the Senate and the Senate rejects it, thus setting up the “disagreement” that triggers POTUS adjournment authority. At this point, the Senate would be in a formal recess and Trump could theoretically appoint as many officials as he wants."
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