Harry Reid Cancels Senate’s July 4 Recess

While the move throws a wrench into long-held plans by senators on both sides of the aisle, it also shows Reid is aware of the optics of taking a week off while the nation careens toward a potential debt default.

“Mr. President, it is often said that with liberty comes responsibility,” he said. “We should take that responsibility seriously. I’m confident we do. That’s why the Senate will reconvene on Tuesday, the day after the Fourth. We’ll do that because we have work to do. We’ll be in session that week — that’s next week — with our first vote on July 5.”

The decision comes as the clock winds down until Aug. 2, the deadline for raising the nation’s $14.3 trillion debt ceiling. But negotiations have occurred at the highest levels of Congress and the White House, raising questions about why having the entire Senate in session will make much difference to the underlying talks.