Alternately, he can call their bluff and make a recess appointment. The Senate cannot argue both ways simultaneously. And he certainly can call back just the House. If the vote happens, the pressure on the Senate will be enormous. Quite frankly, GWB owes it to future Presidents to call the Senate on their recess game. Let a Republican Senator attempt to conduct the people’s business and then issue a statement that the Senate is in defacto recess, make an appointment, and dare them to challenge. It’s not like he has anything to lose. Embrace the duck, so to speak.
I like the way you think.
Unfortunately, the WH isn't even pretending to be hand-tied in calling the House to session because of the supposed Catch-22 with the senate being in pro forma. They know they can do it. Instead, the WH spokesman said they don't plan to call for a session because the demcorats aren't "willing" to do anything, so it wouldn't do any good anyway. Sigh. Lame duck indeed. Lame. Lame. Lame.