Reid thwarts recess appointments

WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., in a showdown with the White House over executive-branch nominations, Friday refused to formally adjourn the chamber for a planned two-week Thanksgiving break, thwarting President Bush's ability to make recess appointments.

Reid employed a rarely used parliamentary tactic of scheduling "pro forma" sessions twice a week until early December, when Congress returns for three weeks. Under that plan, a few senators, perhaps one Democrat and one Republican, will briefly open the chamber for debate on any topic during the next two weeks.

The move blocks Bush's ability to make so-called recess appointments, which would allow the appointees to serve out the remainder of Bush's term.

Reid accused Bush of moving slowly on Democratic nominees for a variety of bipartisan oversight agencies, such as the Federal Communications Commission. Reid said he had made good on a promise to move several key Bush nominees, including new Attorney General Michael Mukasey, but Bush has not officially nominated some Democratic selections for the bipartisan commissions.

An administration official said Democratic nominees for the FCC, the Federal Election Commission and the National Labor Relations Board were close to being sent to the Senate.

The White House accused Democrats of holding up more than 200 executive- and judicial-branch nominations, including some for the circuit courts and the Federal Reserve. "If they are going to come in every three days, they might as well hold hearings on these nominees and make progress on filling these important positions," spokeswoman Emily Lawrimore said.

Under law, a president can use a recess appointment if the Senate is adjourned more than three days without reconvening on the fourth day. The interim appointments last through the current and next sessions of Congress.

The Senate returns for full sessions Dec. 3.