The U.S. Congress returns to session this week with more partisan sparring expected, according to a political journalist for the Wall Street Journal.
Janet Hook, congressional writer for the newspaper, said that lawmakers will likely plunge into policy issues that will likely shape their midterm elections. According to Hook, this means that this historically unproductive Congress isn't likely to get much more done this term.
"We have midterm elections (this year) and the entire (U.S.) House and one-third the Senate is up for reelection. President Obama is not, but the politics are already coming thick and fast," said Hook.
One major issue needing immediate attention is the passing of the appropriations funding the federal government's fiscal year. According to Hook, this will likely be a highly contentious vote.
She also indicated that another very partisan debate will be over the extension of long-term unemployment benefits that Senate Democrats will try to pass.
"It's the middle of a two-year session of Congress where the first year was not terribly productive and there's not much prospect for it being more productive, maybe even less this year," she said.
According to Hook, Janet Yelin's confirmation as the new Federal Reserve chair could likely be the only bipartisan agreement.
