NYTimesAfter weeks of being overshadowed by presidential politics, members of Congress return Tuesday for a charged march to Election Day that has been complicated by the call to reorganize the nation's intelligence agencies.
House and Senate leaders are planning to advance legislation that carries out recommendations from the Sept. 11 commission report that was issued just before Congress recessed for six weeks. Lawmakers must also dispose of a dozen required spending bills as well as decide what to do about a popular highway measure and a host of other proposals, all while jockeying for advantage in the November elections, which will decide control of both houses.
To that end, each party has a distinct political agenda. Democrats say they will
pressure the Republicans to embrace the Sept. 11 commission's 41 recommendations fully or face the political consequences.
Republicans intend to use their control of both chambers to schedule legislation in an effort to put Democrats on the spot. In the House, the majority plans to hold a vote this month on the proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and will force floor fights over abortion, taxes and reforms to the legal system. In the Senate, Democrats say they expect a floor vote on a proposed constitutional amendment barring flag desecration. ..
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