Page 4 - Pro Forma Session News Today

>> right. >> beyond that, congress also does very practical things to prevent a situation in which bob mueller could be fired. already said theyre not confirm another attorney general nominee. if trump tried to sort of change the head of the doj to move a chain of command down to fire mueller that would not be an option. also, theyve not gone into a real recess over this next couple of weeks, because they dont want to allow any sort of shenanigans in which recess appointments might put someone i...

Is less weighty. because the grand jury has degree of permanency and protection that bob mueller might not have. this legislation is very important because it indicates the level of outrage and opposition that would follow any attempt by donald trump to fire bob mueller. >> something significant happened today. the senate went into the a five-week recess if im not mistaken. they flocked what is called a pro forma session. protection that bob mueller might not have. this legislation is very impor...

They might look at policy agendas and goals but sit not in coordination with this president nor will it be going forward when they get back in september. >> thats a point and it raises something ive noticed which is a difference in the way the senate and the house are behaving. senate republicans have been more independent, theyre sort of separated themselves more from the president. i thought very notable that someone like tom tillis that doesnt have a reputation for being a maverick would intr...

Now coincidence. hes shown shes willing to throw them under the bus and they dont know the next shoe to drop. they might look at policy agendas and goals but sit not in coordination with this president nor will it be going forward when they get back in september. >> thats a point and it raises something ive noticed which is a difference in the way the senate and the house are behaving. senate republicans have been more independent, theyre sort of separated themselves more from the president. i t...

Pro forma session. to essentially make sure that there is, for constitutional purposes, not a recess that the president can appoint someone, were the president to say fire jeff sessions. how significant and important is that step? >> whats really significant is not only that step but i think very strong determination that there be no recess appointment in the attorney general position. and i think again, the firestorm and potential constitutional crisis that would greet this step by donald trump...

About trumps relationship with russia. about where this investigation is headed and where they are taking foreign policies. theres no doubt about that. >> a busy day for all of you at ro your respective places of work. i want to go right to congressman you have a very serious role. what is on your mind tonight? do you want to speak to what we were just discussing about whether they go into pro forma session. >> well, let me say that this reality of where the senate is today, the fact that they p...

Do it but likely wouldnt succeed. they can try the filibuster, but the republicans can change it to a straight up or down vote. president trumps problem may be that if his attorney general leaves, sessions has a lot of friends in the u.s. senate. and some republicans might side with the democrats forcing what is called a pro forma session. everybody leaves town except for one guy that walks in and bangs the gavel. the u.s. supreme court has said sorry, you cant make a recess appoint meant during...

With mitch mcconnell any time he wants someone confirmed, he wont be able to go around congress and fill positions when a hypothetical republican senator refuses to act. thats what the stakes are and thats the power of the presidency that the supreme court curtailed pretty drastically. i think pete nailed it when he said the power isnt technically doomed. the ruling could have gone a lot further. for all intents and purposes, theres nothing stopping a hypothetical republican majority from defini...

Session and they claim they were actually in session when the president made those appointments and therefore they were invalid. and today the justices agreed with the senate republicans saying the three people the president appointed to the national labor board doesnt count essentially because the senate was in session because of this legislative maneuver. however important to note that the justices didnt take away the constitutional authority for the president to appoint people when congress i...

Appointments. officials placed in top government jobs without senate approval, in other words the president didnt wait for senate approval to appoint these people and the u.s. supreme court has ruled that is wrong. lets head out to the u.s. supreme court and pamela brown. there you are. so tell us more about this ruling. >> right. so carol, the justices unanimously handed over a big win to congress. its a big defeat for the white house. this has been a power tug of war between the legislative br...