The President refused to rule out a recess appointment to the job if the Senate formally adjourned. So, the Senate Majority Leader decided to keep the Senate in session with pro forma meetings every two or three days. It was his idea, used to stop the President from using the constitutional power presidents hold under the Constitution to bypass Senate confirmation and unilaterally install his nominees in office when Congress is adjourned. And it worked – then.

Now the President just ignored those same pro forma sessions and appointed Richard Cordray to be the first director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and three members to the National Labor Relations Board.

But that was 2007 and the President was Bush; this is now and the President is Obama.

Can we sustain our nation when our President makes a “breathtaking violation of the separation of powers”? Can we as citizens tolerate representatives who one day claim a session is legal, and the next day say it is irrelevant?

In December, Representative Hoyer came to the floor of the House during a pro forma session to debate an issue. Clearly he believes them legal, and binding – but only when he’s in charge.

Maryland deserves a Representative that believes in what’s true today is true tomorrow and true everyday. Maryland deserves a Representative we can rely on, and will represent us, not parrot the Party line. Maryland deserves Tony O’Donnell.