Obama bucks GOP, OKs consumer watchdog

[jaxx]

AP sources: Obama bucks GOP, OKs consumer watchdog
Jan 4, 9:56 AM EST
By BEN FELLER and JIM KUHNHENN
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- In a defiant display of executive power, President Barack Obama on Wednesday will buck GOP opposition and name Richard Cordray as the nation's chief consumer watchdog even though the Senate contends the move is inappropriate, senior administration officials told The Associated Press

With a director in place, the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will be able to start overseeing the mortgage companies, payday lenders, debt collectors and other financial companies often blamed for practices that helped tank the economy.

Obama's decision to make a recess appointment is certain to cause an uproar from Capitol Hill to Wall Street. He is essentially declaring the Senate's short off-and-on legislative sessions a sham intended to block his appointments.

The White House is expecting considerable criticism and perhaps a court challenge, but says Obama was left with little choice to get the consumer agency fully running after months of stalemate.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/U...TE=DEFAULT

Really pissy article, but I'm delighted PBO will put Cordray into the CFPB and get it moving.

pfeiffer44 Dan Pfeiffer
We Can't Wait: Today in Ohio, President Obama will announce the recess appointment of Consumer Watchdog Richard Cordray apne.ws/8JyTJ
14 minutes ago

[janedrake]

Yes! -- let the yelping from the GOP hyenas begin -- they will just give the president a clear opportunity to expose what a disgrace they've been with regard to his appointees.

[jaxx]

(01-04-2012 09:15 AM)janedrake Wrote:  Yes! -- let the yelping from the GOP hyenas begin -- they will just give the president a clear opportunity to expose what a disgrace they've been with regard to his appointees.

The screaming will be loud, I'm sure.

[jaxx]

President Obama Still Has All The Legal Authority He Needs To Make A Recess Appointment Right Now

By Ian Millhiser on Jan 3, 2012 at 2:10 pm

Earlier today, a reliable source told ThinkProgress that President Obama will make at least one recess appointment soon. If this report proves accurate, Senate Republicans will inevitably complain that this action violates the Constitution — as they do pretty much every time President Obama does anything. They will be wrong.

<..> A few commentators have suggested that this precedent only applies to what are known as “intersession” recesses — that is, the recess that occurs around the beginning of each new year when one session of Congress ends and another begins. Under this theory, President Obama blew his chance to make recess appointments when he allowed the second session of the 112th Congress to begin at noon today without making any appointments. This argument, however, has no basis in the Constitution itself. As Evans explains, “the text of the Constitution does not differentiate expressly between inter- and intrasession recesses for the Recess Appointments Clause,” and “the main purpose of the Recess Appointments Clause—to enable the President to fill vacancies to assure the proper functioning of our government —supports reading both intrasession recesses and intersession recesses as within the correct scope of the Clause.”

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/01...-tomorrow/

[azmouse]

GObama!

[pappy]

Quote:Appointments by President George W. Bush, January 20, 2001-October 31, 2008
Total Number of Recess Appointments 171
Appointments during intersession recesses — between sessions of Congress 30
Appointments during intrasession recesses — within sessions of Congress141

Appointments to executive branch positions 165
Appointments to judicial branch positions 6

Recess appointments for which a nomination was made by
October 31, 2008 165

Nomination timing
Recess appointments preceded by nomination 162
Recess appointments followed by nomination 3

Nomination disposition as of October 31, 2008
Resulted in confirmation 95
Pending in the Senate 6

Withdrawn by the President 31
Returned to the President 33

Source: FAS.ORG CRS Report to Congress

[janedrake]

(01-04-2012 09:29 AM)pappy Wrote:  

Quote:Appointments by President George W. Bush, January 20, 2001-October 31, 2008
Total Number of Recess Appointments 171
Appointments during intersession recesses — between sessions of Congress 30
Appointments during intrasession recesses — within sessions of Congress141

Appointments to executive branch positions 165
Appointments to judicial branch positions 6

Recess appointments for which a nomination was made by
October 31, 2008 165

Nomination timing
Recess appointments preceded by nomination 162
Recess appointments followed by nomination 3

Nomination disposition as of October 31, 2008
Resulted in confirmation 95
Pending in the Senate 6

Withdrawn by the President 31
Returned to the President 33

Source: FAS.ORG CRS Report to Congress

Thank you!

[jaxx]

It looks official now:

whitehouse The White House
Today, President Obama will appoint Richard Cordray to lead the @cfpb. @pfeiffer44 on America's consumer watchdog: wh.gov/Wrh
5 minutes ago

[Born_A_Truman]

Saint Ronnie holds the recess appointment record: 243...yet McConnell calls Obama's recess appointment "unprecedented".

[azmouse]

(01-04-2012 10:14 AM)Born_A_Truman Wrote:  Saint Ronnie holds the recess appointment record: 243...yet McConnell calls Obama's recess appointment "unprecedented".

Unprecedented to McConnell because a black man has never been in the WH before and told the Republicans to go f*** themselves.

[jaxx]

(01-04-2012 10:18 AM)azmouse Wrote:  

(01-04-2012 10:14 AM)Born_A_Truman Wrote:  Saint Ronnie holds the recess appointment record: 243...yet McConnell calls Obama's recess appointment "unprecedented".

Unprecedented to McConnell because a black man has never been in the WH before and told the Republicans to go f*** themselves.

Well put azmouse!!