Republican senator says recess appointments would be a “huge mistake”
In some of the strongest language yet from a Republican senator in opposition to recess appointments, Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said it would be a “huge mistake” to allow President-elect Donald Trump to not go through the full Senate confirmation process.
He said, not only would it mean that the Senate would cede its constitutional authority of advice and consent, but the nominees also would be weakened by their “acting” status.
“No serious nominee for Cabinet-level position is going to want to be confirmed as a recess appointment,” Tillis, who is on Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s leadership team, told reporters in the Capitol.
He also said it’s “not going to happen,” because Trump’s demands are really aimed at pressuring senators to act as quickly as possible to confirm his cabinet nominees and other top positions, as opposed to a real threat to carry out the appointments.
Tillis noted that people who are recess appointed don’t have the same authority as people who went through the full confirmation process.
“Everybody needs to know, by statute, you don’t get paid if you’re a recess appointee,” he said. “Number two, there’s an asterisk next to your name. If you happen to be one, for example, that’s dealing with international relations, it’s like the discounting you get if you’re only acting versus Senate confirmed. The Senate confirmation carries more weight than one that bypasses advise and consent.”
He said if Trump tried to use his constitutional authority to force Congress to recess so he could make appointments in their absence it would be quickly litigated to the Supreme Court, and he thinks the appointments would not be upheld.
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