May 9, 2011
GOP Senators are considering employing an unusual tactic to block President Obama from making a recess appointment for director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, according to American Banker.
A procedural move first used by Democrats when President Bush was in office, Republicans are considering holding “pro forma sessions” — brief meetings during which no business is conducted — that would keep the Senate from officially being out on “recess.” GOP lawmakers employed this approach last year to block any recess appointments by the President after consenting to approve 54 nominees.
Forty-four GOP senators sent a letter last week to President Obama, claiming they wouldn’t support any CFPB nominee until the agency is subject to additional congressional oversight. The letter increases the odds the President will attempt a CFPB recess appointment, states American Banker.
“If Obama were to recess-appoint a CFPB director, Republicans could also hold up any other financial services nominees,” reports American Banker. “A slate of several nominations, including the heads of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, is expected soon.”
Yet Sen. Richard Shelby, the top Republican on the Banking Committee, refuted the notion the letter would move the President to a recess appointment.
“The president is not being forced to do anything but work with Republicans to provide some semblance of accountability to this massive new bureaucracy,” Shelby said in an email.”We are willing to talk, and we certainly hope he is. Republicans are simply calling for some modicum of accountability — in the nomination process and in the bureau’s operations. If President Obama does not support accountability, then that’s his position and we’ll go from there.”
Click here to read more reaction from other GOP leaders.
44 U.S. Sens. to Obama: No Accountability, No Confirmation
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House Subcommittee Gives Nod to 3 Bills That Reduce CFPB’s Authority
ABA Head Says He Would Support Warren Nomination
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