US Congress Back For A Month, Few Moves Likely

With the US Congress returning in what Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott describes as "a political partisan mode" after its month-long vacation, various experts feel that only the bare minimum will be accomplished before it breaks again to campaign for re-election.

However, before the recess at the end of this month or the beginning of October, Congress will have to complete work on the appropriations legislation needed to keep the government running past the October 1 beginning of the new financial year. In contrast to the confrontation which resulted in two government shutdowns earlier this year, Republican leaders have said that they plan to reach a compromise with the Administration over these issues.