Congress returning for abbreviated session

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

Lawmakers return to Washington this week for an abbreviated election-season session in which they likely will do what they do best: the bare minimum.

All Congress must do this month is keep the government from shutting down Oct. 1 and, with any luck, finally provide money for the fight against the mosquito-borne Zika virus. Republicans controlling Congress promise they won’t stumble now, but the weeks ahead could prove tricky.

A chief motivation for the September session, especially for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is allowing lawmakers to return to campaigning as soon as possible.