Senate Democrats said Wednesday they aren’t worried at all about Republican threats to cancel the August recess, and even some who are in tough races against their GOP opponents said staying in Washington might help show voters that they’re willing to work hard.
“I’m not worried at all,” said Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., on the prospect of losing part of recess. “Do your job. That’s what we’re here for. It would be nice if they stayed here on Fridays and worked sometimes.”
“I think they’d think a lot less of me if I was skipping out here campaigning and didn’t do my job,” Manchin said. “That’s West Virginia — they expect you to do the job that you’re committed to doing and you take an oath to do, so I don’t think it would be a disadvantage at all.”
Republicans are mulling whether to stick around in August and work, a move that could make it harder for the 26 Democrats up for re-election to defend their seats. Republicans are only defending nine seats, so the move could give the GOP an advantage as it tries to build on its slim 51-49 majority.
But Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., another top target of Republicans in the fall, is unfazed by the threat and said he doesn’t mind staying as long as real work gets done.
“I don’t have a problem with it as long as we do something. I think that that’s a big part of it. I don’t see getting that much more done, but if they want to do it to get some stuff done, people sent me here to work and we don’t have any problem doing that,” Tester said. “Roll up your sleeves and get after it. It’s fine. I think it’s good. I don’t have a problem with it.”
McConnell has yet to announce his plans for the recess after several Senate Republicans called on him to cancel the entire break so the chamber can pass nominees and pass appropriations bills. A similar group of GOP senators made the same call last year, and McConnell canceled a week of recess and struck a deal to approve.
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said Wednesday that he remains hopeful that the two sides will be able to work out a deal as they “usually” do, but others in the Senate Democratic ranks believe the move is a smokescreen and an empty threat from Republicans.
“I doubt they will [cancel recess] … I suspect there are some things for window-dressing,” said Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., adding that he suspects that McConnell will cancel a week again this year, but not much longer. “I’m not too worried.”
While only one Republican is deemed to be in a true tough fight in November, upwards of six Senate Democratic incumbents are fighting for their political lives with less than six months until the elections. Additionally, the lone Republican in a tough fight, Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., signed the letter to McConnell along with 15 of his colleagues, giving McConnell more flexibility ahead of Election Day.
While some Democrats say they aren’t concerned about shortening or canceling the month away from Washington, others are irked at the idea that recess would be canceled for political purposes.
“It’s unfortunate because it’s partisan,” said Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.
“I’ll just work extra hard on weekends. I’m used to doing that. I don’t think my opponent [is] so much,” McCaskill added in a dig against her opponent, Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley, who has come under fire in the state for what some believe has been a lackluster campaign.
“It would be unfortunate if politics were played with the schedule that affects so many families,” said Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. “But whatever happens will be fine.”
Republicans hope the chatter pushes Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to negotiate on the appropriation bills and nominations ahead of the August recess despite the funding deadline currently set for the end of September. If not, they’re prepared to remain in town for an August session.
“If I were Chuck Schumer, I would want to be working with us to help move appropriation bills and move nominations and get a lot of work done so I can get my members out in the month of August,” said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D. “[O]bviously, from their standpoint politically, he’s going to be under a lot of pressure to have his members back in their states, but that … suggests they might want to work with us and cooperate in the next few months to try and get as many of these things across the finish line as we can.”
