McConnell delays August recess as health-care debate looms

The Senate's August recess will start two weeks later than scheduled, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced Tuesday. The annual month-long recess now will not begin until the third week of August to allow the Senate time to "complete its work on the health-care reform" and then "turn to other important issues including the National Defense Authorization Act and the backlog of critical nominations," McConnell said.
McConnell blamed the delay on Democrats' "obstruction," claiming they have "mindlessly stalled" nominations and shown "a lack of cooperation." McConnell has struggled in recent weeks to secure enough Republican support to hold a vote on the bill he crafted to repeal and replace ObamaCare.
While some Republicans have been angling for this delay to happen, others might be in for a surprise. Talking Points Memo reported that "just minutes before McConnell's announcement," Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) told reporters that the recess delay was "not gonna happen." "It's hard enough to get members here on a Friday," Blunt said.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

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.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Groypers: the alt-right group pulled into the foreground
The Explainer The group is led by alt-right activist Nick Fuentes
-
10 concert tours to see this upcoming fall
The Week Recommends Concert tour season isn't over. Check out these headliners.
-
How to put student loan payments on pause
The Explainer If you are starting to worry about missing payments, deferment and forbearance can help
-
Texas declares end to measles outbreak
Speed Read The vaccine-preventable disease is still spreading in neighboring states, Mexico and Canada
-
RFK Jr. shuts down mRNA vaccine funding at agency
Speed Read The decision canceled or modified 22 projects, primarily for work on vaccines and therapeutics for respiratory viruses
-
Measles cases surge to 33-year high
Speed Read The infection was declared eliminated from the US in 2000 but has seen a resurgence amid vaccine hesitancy
-
Kennedy's vaccine panel signals skepticism, change
Speed Read RFK Jr.'s new vaccine advisory board intends to make changes to the decades-old US immunization system
-
Kennedy ousts entire CDC vaccine advisory panel
speed read Health Secretary RFK Jr. is a longtime anti-vaccine activist who has criticized the panel of experts
-
RFK Jr. scraps Covid shots for pregnant women, kids
Speed Read The Health Secretary announced a policy change without informing CDC officials
-
New FDA chiefs limit Covid-19 shots to elderly, sick
speed read The FDA set stricter approval standards for booster shots
-
US overdose deaths plunged 27% last year
speed read Drug overdose still 'remains the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-44,' said the CDC