Sen. Cassidy: Senate Should Skip Summer Recess

Sen. Bill Cassidy said Friday it's a priority to cancel the August recess and remain in D.C. in hopes of getting more of President Donald Trump's appointees approved.

The Louisiana Republican is part of a group of senators who sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell asking to forgo the summer break.

"Senators work in August, typically in our home states," the Louisiana Republican told MSNBC's "Morning Joe." "In this case, we are saying maybe we need to work in Washington, D.C.

"There's been reports checked out, the president's claim, rightly so, at this rate, he'll finish appointing everybody he needs to appoint in nine years. We need to accelerate that and need those folks appointed as soon as possible," Cassidy said.

During the recess, Cassidy said, he typically participates in town hall gatherings and meets with his constituents, but this year, it's very important to remain beheld.

"If we are going to take nine years to fill all the political positions, we need to have it done more quickly," said Cassidy. "He needs to execute his agenda. I'm going to something about lowering drug costs today. He needs the appointees to lower the drug costs. Let's get it done."

The most controversial appointment, that of Gina Haspel to head the CIA, will soon turn to the Senate for approval, if she makes it through her committee hearings, and Cassidy said he is ready to vote for her after hearing her testimony.

"I heard some Democrats come to the same conclusion," Cassidy said. "I reviewed the classified material the CIA provided and a timeline of her employment, the degree of her involvement in various things and she is an incredibly compelling person. When you see that, you understand that I think the objections to her are overstated."

Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, however, has said he does not agree with her becoming director because of her history involving extreme interrogation procedures, but Cassidy said he's using the nomination of former CIA Director John Brennan as an example.

"John Brennan was No. 4 in the CIA when the things the folks object to about Gina Haspel were put in place," said Cassidy. "He helped come up with a policy that was implemented, and 36, or something like that, Democrats voted for John Brennan when Obama nominated him, who clearly was more involved in this decision making than was Gina Haspel. Those are some of the same folks objecting to Gina Haspel."

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