Dash to the finish

Congress has three weeks to wrap up a lot of unfinished business before hitting the campaign trail.

Throughout the 110th Congress, Democrats have enjoyed the political advantage over their Republican counterparts. But in recent weeks, Republicans have gotten the spring back in their step.

Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) as his running mate has energized the Republican base. On Capitol Hill, congressional Republicans have enjoyed playing offense on energy as they repeatedly have called for offshore oil and gas drilling.

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) embraced the idea and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was also forced to modify her position in recent weeks.

With polls numbers tight between Obama and McCain, congressional leaders have many opportunities and hurdles facing them before they adjourn for the year. Democrats control the congressional schedule in both the House and Senate for the first time in an election year since 1994.

Democrats could look to score political points by scheduling another vote on the popular State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), noting that both President Bush and McCain oppose their SCHIP expansion bill.

They also will push for a second economic stimulus package and try to portray Republicans, who have been lukewarm on the issue, as out of touch.

But passing a continuing resolution (CR) that keeps the government running until there is a new president could be politically challenging. Bush and Republicans on Capitol Hill do not want the CR to include a moratorium on expanding offshore drilling, and the prospects of a bitter fight on that issue are escalating.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) cautioned Republicans on Monday against forcing a government shutdown.

He said, “We are not interested in any games being played [with the funding measure]. We simply want to make sure the government is allowed to function.”

A government shutdown would be politically risky for incumbents of both parties, but a deal must be struck soon.

Other items on the agenda include an Alternative Minimum Tax relief bill and a D.C. gun bill that is opposed by gun control advocates.

Trade deals such as the pending Colombia pact are all but dead this year.

There is a chance that there will be a lame-duck session, though most Democrats want to avoid it. Many of them are already looking to next year, when, in all likelihood, there will be more Democrats in the House and Senate. Whether they will be working with, or against, a new president is far less certain.