How could the House pass a bill during a pro forma session
You're being disingenuous at best. For the House to pass the holiday tax bill, there would have had to be a minimum of 218 House members present. That happened before Christmas. Two weeks later, how many members of the House are actually even in Washington DC to show up for a pro forma session? Two or three, maybe?
We're talking about the Senate, genius. They passed the payroll tax holiday on January 3rd.
His post didn't specify to which chamber he was referring. Considering that the HofR was the holdout on approving the measure, I think my assumption that he was referring to the House is quite understandable.
Additionally, genius, the Senate vote was essentially a conference committee and not the full Senate.
-- Pursuant to the order of 12/23/2011, Senate appointed conferees. Baucus; Reed; Cardin; Casey; Kyl; Crapo; Barrasso.
-- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Advise and Consent is about the Senate, not the House. The Senate was not in Recess during the Recess Appointments.