After the president nixed an earlier funding bill (to tide the wars over until October 1) that set benchmarks for progress in Iraq and timelines for troop withdrawal, Congress is seeing if it can pass a bill that keeps some benchmarks and that can make it past a presidential veto.

The Senate, meanwhile, dives into debate on a massive immigration reform bill. Cobbled together last week by a bipartisan group of senators and covering border security, employee verification, a guest worker plan, new family immigration rules and a path for illegals to get legit, the bill's chances of survival are shaky at best.

The House turns to wrap up lobbying reform, voting on bills that force lobbyists to disclose more of their biz including, maybe, when they "bundle" together donations for lawmakers working on their causes.

Also left over from the House's plate last week is a bill (HR 1427) that would tighten the reins on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two quasi-governmental companies that back home mortgages - and that, some say, are skating on thin financial ice.

Politics 

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