Congress returns to its daily grind
TEXT OF STORY
Steve Chiotakis: Congress reconvenes in Washington this week after a long recess.
Marketplace’s Steve Henn has a look at what’s on the agenda.
Steve Henn: Every September when Congress comes back to town, the traffic gets worse, lobbyists flood back, and cabbies like Charles Hewitt rejoice. The long, hot summer is finally over.
Charles Hewitt: There’s nobody to go to restaurants or anything that requires people. They’re gone.
It’s been a sticky month for lawmakers, too. But now it’s back to work. They have to finish next year’s budget — not to mention tackling health care.
AB Stoddard: I don’t think we’re going to see any action beyond the annual spending bills and health care.
AB Stottard covers the Capitol for the Hill newspaper. She says health care is quickly becoming the issue that’s eating the rest of the Democrats’ agenda. Remember global warming legislation and regulatory reform for Wall Street?
Stottard: I don’t see that coming up in the remainder or
’09, I think it will be health care and just the usual business.
And unless President Obama finds a way to slice through the gridlock, every other issue could end up stuck in traffic.
In Washington, I’m Steve Henn for Marketplace.
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