Congress: Hey, it's been two weeks since our last vacation

[AGENDA21]

WASHINGTON — Congressional schedule-keepers had planned for a two-week sprint between vacations to produce weighty reforms on immigration, pensions and tax policy. But Friday, at the finish line, all of those measures were missing.

The 16-day Easter break began just the same.

"Most families do spend a little time together over Easter, so I don't think that it's an unusual time to do it," said Senate Democratic Whip Richard Durbin of Illinois. Durbin said he expects more questions from his constituents about the war in Iraq than Congress' schedule.

As for those who wonder why Congress is taking a two-week vacation with such major legislation unfinished, "They've got a point," said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

It's not as if nothing happened during the two weeks since Congress' first-ever weeklong vacation for St. Patrick's Day.

http://www.startribune.com/587/story/358434.html