6 Republican senators want to shorten or cancel their August recess

Republican lawmakers are increasingly pushing congressional leadership to go through with discussed plans to shorten or cancel altogether the August recess to allow more time for work on agenda priorities like the health-care bill. Six GOP senators — David Perdue (Ga.), Steve Daines (Mont.), John Kennedy (La.), Mike Lee (Utah), Mike Rounds (S.D.), and Luther Strange (Ala.) — have planned a press conference calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to amend the congressional schedule. McConnell is sympathetic to the idea.

This push comes after 10 Republican senators and 12 GOP representatives sent a letter to McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) making the same request. "Our constituents expect us to work hard and will be disappointed if we shut down for four to five weeks when we could move our agenda forward," said the House letter.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up