Back to work: Congress facing busy agenda

WASHINGTON — Members of Congress return from July Fourth fireworks and parades Tuesday facing a daunting summer workload and an impending deadline to fund the government or risk a shutdown in the fall.

The funding fight is shaping up as a major partisan brawl against the backdrop of an intensifying campaign season. Already, Republicans are deep into the blame game with Democrats over who would be responsible if a shutdown does happen.

The funding deadline does not arrive until Sept. 30, but lawmakers face more immediate tests. Near the top of the list is renewing highway funding before the government loses spending authority July 31.

The Senate opens its legislative session this week with consideration of a major bipartisan education overhaul bill that rewrites the much-maligned No Child Left Behind law by shifting responsibility from the federal government to the states for public school standards. The House also is moving forward with its own, Republican-written education overhaul bill. Even if both bills pass, though, it’s uncertain whether Congress will be able to agree on a combined version to send to President Barack Obama.

But all issues are likely to be overshadowed by the government funding fight.

Democrats pledge to oppose the annual spending bills unless Republicans negotiate higher spending levels for domestic agencies. Republicans want more spending for the military but not domestic agencies. If there’s no resolution by Sept. 30, the government faces a partial shutdown.