House back for a five day work week

Not everyone who reads this story has to work five days a week, but the Monday-Friday work week is accepted as the traditional schedule for many workers in the United States.

On Capitol Hill, of course, things are a little different.

If the House is in legislative session and takes votes all five days this week, it would be the first time that has happened all year.

The official House schedule set out by Republicans includes only two weeks all year where votes were scheduled every day of a week - the week of September 10 and the week of October 1.

This full, five day work week on the House floor starts off with some easy pickings, like the North Texas Zebra Mussel Barrier Act, the Lions Club International Century of Service Commemorative Coin Act, the Billfish Conservative Act and a resolution expressing the sense of Congress that Taiwan should be accorded observer status in the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Okay, those are easy cheap shots at the Congress, which often moves minor legislation at all times - but it is a reminder that with so many large issues unresolved, like the budget bills for next year, the expiration of the current set of income tax rates and more - that lawmakers are just nibbling around the edges this week on the schedule.

The House and Senate this week will also try to approve a stop gap budget bill to keep the government running at the end of the month, because once again lawmakers haven't finished the spending bills for next year.