Congress Is Back

After a ten day break, the Congress returns to work this week with lawmakers wondering how much will really get done legislatively before an August vacation that lasts until after Labor Day.

The House will be in session for only three weeks before it breaks by Friday July 30.  The Senate is expected to work one week into August.

That means the Senate has 20 work days before Labor Day, while the House has 15.

But the House is not in session today, so make that 14 work days.

And with no votes until Tuesday evening on a series of non-controversial measures, one could almost argue that the true number is 13 work days.

So, what's on the agenda?  Well, the Senate must figure out a way to break the gridlock on a bill that would extend long term jobless benefits, which started running out back on June 1.

Democrats got 59 votes on a procedural test vote in early July, and could conceivably hit 60 when a new Senator is appointed from West Virginia to temporarily replace the late Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV), but no choice has been made yet by the Governor.

Other legislative items on the agenda could include major energy & climate legislation backed by Democrats, but they seem short of the 60 votes needed for action in the Senate.

There are all kinds of other bills that need action, but which seem unlikely before August, like what to do about the expiring Bush tax cuts, the inheritance taxes that snap back into existence on Jan. 1 and this year's budget.

Democrats in the House finally began subcommittee work on next year's appropriations bills, but it's unclear if any will be cleared for action by the full House.

One spending bill that must be dealt with during this work period is extra money for the War in Afghanistan.  That's now loaded with all kinds of domestic spending add-ons.  The fate of that measure is unclear at best.

The Senate could take up the issue of Don't Ask Don't Tell in the Defense Authorization bill, but that could face a GOP filibuster.

Senators will also vote by early August on the Supreme Court nomination of Elena Kagan.  That will likely take up the final week before the Summer break begins.

And after Labor Day?  There aren't many work days at all before we will watch lawmakers run home to campaign.
After a ten day break, the Congress returns to work this week with lawmakers wondering how much will really get done legislatively before an August vacation that lasts until after Labor Day. The House will be in session for only three weeks before it breaks by Friday July 30.  The ...