As its May 31 expiration date looms and a vote to extend its provisions has yet to be scheduled, the USA PATRIOT Act may be on its last legs — but Senator Mitch McConnell is now claiming the Senate will not adjourn for the Memorial Day recess until their work is finished.
The 10-day Senate recess will not be broken up by pro forma sessions used in years past to prevent President Obama from exercising his constitutional recess appointment authority.
When proceedings run past the standard judiciary quitting time of 5 p.m., though, the judge will not necessarily call a recess.
"We are, however, pleased that the court recognised the president's executive authority," he said, adding that the administration, which is still studying the decision, will not hesitate using the recess appointment power to the extent the judgement allows.
By that time, the Senate may have passed the short-term extension to the Patriot Act powers, but members of the House of Representatives will have left Washington for its Memorial Day recess and will not be able to vote on it until they return on 1 June.
The senator said he felt obligated to let his staff leave now, as Congress is in recess and he will not be in the office.
It must be one of the reasons why presiding judge Ahmed Refaat announced after a long recess that he will not allow the live broadcast of the trial anymore, citing "public interest" as the reason.
Confidential information will not be disclosed over tea during recess, or used as a weapon against a student.
Alex Rodriguez's arbitration hearing recessed on Friday and will not resume until sometime in November, which apparently means this year's World Series may be able to proceed without the Yankees' third baseman creating a distinct distraction.
