WASHINGTON — The most partisan, least productive Congress in memory is bolting Washington for the campaign trail, leaving in its wake a pile of unfinished business on the budget and taxes, farm policy and legislation to save the Postal Service from insolvency.
The GOP-controlled House beat its retreat Friday morning after one last, futile slap at President Barack Obama — passing a bill called the "Stop the War on Coal Act."
In the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid delayed that chamber's getaway to force a post-midnight procedural vote on legislation by endangered Democrat Jon Tester of Montana to boost access to public lands for hunting and fishing.
The main item of Senate business was to clear a six-month spending bill needed to prevent a government shutdown at the end of the month.
