Just a few weeks left for congressmen to pass any more legislation before this Congress finishes. Any unfinished business is cleared from the books in January, so urge your representatives to get the things done you hoped they would before it’s too late. (Meanwhile, I’m off to attend a mini-conference on Open Government, Open Data!)

Didn’t we just get back from vacation? Ah well, our lawmakers are taking some time off again. They return from campaigning on November 9.

House Republicans succeeded in pushing through 253 to 168 [

] yesterday and an act to require photo ID to vote, last week, 228 to 196 [].

By linking a minimum wage increase with a tax cut for the wealthy in , the Republicans had their cake and ate it too (over minimum wage) by knowing the Democrats would never let the bill come to a vote. Dems put the bill on hold 56 to 42 (3/5 needed) [].

On Tuesday the Senate passed 65 to 34 [ ] to prohibit taking minors across state lines to circumvent parental notification laws for abortion. The Senate is now caught up with the House, which passed

in April 2005. Once they resolve their differences, some version of these bills is likely to become law.

House Republicans failed in their push for “Marriage Protection”, 236 to 187 (2/3 needed) [] missing a two-thirds majority for passage of their proposed constitutional amendment. The Senate passed

, allowing more use of stem cells 63 to 37 [].

The House

.

The Senate has finally passed its immigration reform bill, , at a $45 per capita cost. Senate and House members now begin a conference to work out differences with the House bill,

, passed back in December, which entailed a $7 per capita cost.

The 109th Congress began on Tuesday and GovTrack is ready for the next two years of serving information for you.