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Tuesday, May 15, 2007 12:00 AM

Gonzales' yearlong effort to block Comey's testimony

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  • Tuesday, May 15, 2007 05:24 PM

    Interesting, but irrelevant

    arne: If "session" is defined as the term of the currently elected Congress, then "next session" would be at the end of the next elected Congress's term (the "current session" would describe the one with those currently elected to Congress). Maybe a better read of "session" is when they reconvene from recess until they recess again or adjourn, giving them a chance to give an "up/down" to any such appointments....

    Regardless of the meaning of "session" or "next" or even of "is", the fact remains that this is constitutionally granted authority and cannot be changed by legislation.

    Any good "textualist" ought to agree here, and not pretend the words "next" means the full current term of Congress.

    See "Recess Appointments: A Legal Overview" (http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/50801.pdf) for textualist interpretations.

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