Those of us who are K Street veterans know we are facing a big challenge this year: time. There is little of it, and as a result, we will see limited congressional action in 2008.

Election years, of course, always mean shortened congressional sessions, and this year may feel even shorter. From a numbers perspective alone, there are few days Congress is actually in session. Most Mondays and Fridays are out, because incumbents need to be home in their districts campaigning. Many Tuesdays are unavailable, because of primaries taking place across the nation. Factor in recesses, plus the political conventions, and one is left with fewer than 100 days to conduct real legislative business.

What also will die will be the divisive issues. It is almost certain, for example, that any effort designed to tackle immigration will not survive this session. Controversial presidential nominations and judicial appointments will come to a standstill.

What is not dead, however, are compromise issues that voters/constituents want and indeed demand. For example, we likely will see action to contain the sub-prime mortgage credit crisis. Especially after what we are seeing in the financial markets, at the Federal Reserve and at the White House, members will also be hesitant to return home without providing some sort of stimulus package to soften the effects of what is now appearing to be a recession economy.

Again, in my world, we have to be bipartisan anyway. But we and other associations will need to be even more circumspect this year in working to find common ground. Case in point: Most trade associations have already reviewed their list of issues and examined which of their legislative items have broad, bipartisan support and can be appealing to a large national constituency. Again, a perfect example of this is an effort to provide some relief related to the sub-prime crisis.

Inside the Beltway, process will be different this year, too, and that will add further time constraints. For example, at the Credit Union National Association our lobbyists are — figuratively speaking — taking out their magnifying glasses and getting ready for plenty of late-night reading sessions. That’s because the calendar is so short, and we fully expect that this will be the year of the omnibus, with many issues wrapped together in one legislative package.

What will also make this year particularly interesting are the new procedural rules in the House and Senate that will demand greater scrutiny when it comes to earmarks and riders. Yes, the earmarking process will continue, and riders will still be one of the most effective ways to get business done this session. But the rule requirements are more compelling and detailed than ever before and require more time and deliberation.

Bottom line, 2008 is a challenge, and it may be difficult for anyone to call this a landmark year in Congress.

Furthermore, the year could be tougher than it needs to be, if members decide not to work together and instead pursue a strictly us-versus-them agenda. Partisanship will simply lead to gridlock, and little will be accomplished.

That said, I remain an optimist. After 40 years on the Hill, I still hope it will be a productive year in terms of working together across the aisle. With time constraints in place, members may conclude early on they need to find common ground quickly.

The realist in me knows that through November we will certainly see continued and intense partisanship on the campaign trail. But with low approval ratings overall and a public desire for change, it is essential that there be bipartisan congressional action that will restore some public confidence in both Congress as an institution and as a guardian of the many Americans who are hurting these days.  

Congress may well want to remember the great American poet Robert Frost, who famously wrote, “But I have promises to keep/ And miles to go before I sleep/ And miles to go before I sleep.” Of course, the difference here is there are few days available to travel those miles, and therefore, members must move expeditiously, working together.

Mica is the president and CEO of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), which represents nearly 8,500 credit unions with 90 million members. Rep. Mica (D-Fla.) served in the House from 1979-1989.