DEMS/GOP/SENATE/TRUMP PEOPLE: “Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) canceled much of the Senate’s August recess on Tuesday [6-5-18], saying the chamber would remain in session to work on spending bills and confirming nominees. The move is an unusual one during a midterm election year, when lawmakers typically spend more time in their home states to campaign. Mr. McConnell blamed Senate Democrats, saying they had delayed confirmation of President Donald Trump’s nominees. Senate’s rules allow nominees to be confirmed with a simple majority, and Republicans control the chamber 51-49. But Mr. McConnell has criticized Democrats for not waiving procedural votes on the nominations, eating up precious floor time…Senators are now expected to go to their home states for the first week of August, before returning to Washington for the rest of the month. That may pose political problems in particular for the group of vulnerable Senate Democrats who are up for re-election in states that Mr. Trump won in 2016 and will now have less time to campaign at home. Democrats said they would use the additional weeks in Washington to press Republicans to pass legislation lowering the cost of health-care premiums.”
-Kristina Peterson and Natalie Andrews, “GOP Cancels Most of Senate’s August Recess,” The Wall Street Journal, June 5, 2018 2:50 pm