Summer Break Over, Must-Do Tasks Await Congress

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is returning for a short September session in between its summer break and the November elections. The must-do list includes preventing a government shutdown and extending a freeze on taxing access to the Internet.

Lawmakers also will find time for votes conveying political messages primed for fall campaigning.

Republicans who run the House may have lousy approval ratings, but they are poised to increase their majority and are determined to avoid mistakes like last year's partial government shutdown.

Now, the GOP is pressing for drama-free passage of a temporary spending bill to prevent a federal shutdown at month's end and fund government agencies past the Nov. 4 election into mid-December. The Senate is sure to go along if that measure is kept free of objectionable add-ons.