House Returns to Work, but Not for Long

The House returns to work on Monday for the first time in more than a month. Just don't expect them to stick around DC for long. Speaker Mike Johnson's main goal this week is quick passage of a bipartisan stopgap spending measure that would push a shutdown deadline from Sept. 30 to Dec. 11, reports Politico. With virtually no other must-pass legislation on deck, members are openly talking about cutting the session short so they can campaign for the November midterms.

The House has only three weeks in session left before the elections, and Punchbowl News expects the chamber's Republican leaders to ditch at least one week and perhaps close to all three to carve out room to campaign. Many GOP lawmakers will be in Dallas next week, not DC, for the party's unprecedented midterm convention. The Senate is not due back in session until Sept. 14.