Senate blocks recess appointments with deal between Dems, GOP

Senate Democrats struck a deal with Republicans that will keep President Barack Obama from making recess appointments while Congress is out of town campaigning for the midterm elections.

Democratic leaders have agreed to schedule pro-forma sessions of the Senate every week over the next six weeks. Under the law, the president can only make a recess appointment if the Senate is adjourned for more than three consecutive days. Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) had threatened to send Obama's most controversial nominees back to the president if Democrats did not agree to schedule pro-forma sessions. That would have forced the president to resubmit the nominees to the Senate and Democrats to start their confirmation processes (including hearings) all over again.