Senate gets to work in August — but many don’t show up
By Alexander Bolton - 08/17/18 06:05 AM EDT
The Senate is working through the August recess. Sort of.
Senators didn’t arrive in Washington for this week’s work until late in the day Wednesday and held their last votes of the week at 1:45 p.m. Thursday, adjourning a few hours later.
Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.), the second-ranking Democrat, skipped the week altogether, as did seven Republican senators — not counting Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who is away from Washington indefinitely fighting brain cancer.
The poor attendance on the Republican side of the aisle did not sit well with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who has emphasized for weeks that the Senate would work through August to get its business done.
McConnell criticized his colleagues for skipping votes during a private meeting. Thursday, warning it would be difficult to set up votes next week if so many GOP colleagues continue to miss work.
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http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/402259-senate-gets-to-work-in-august-but-many-dont-show-up