Congress Returns This Week

Congress returns to town this week, and the bickering is likely to look pretty much like it did last year. High on the list of debates is how to extend a payroll tax holiday. It expires at the end of February, two months after it started. At issue is how to pay for it. Republicans would cut federal employee benefits. President Barack Obama would raise fees for airline passengers and eliminate Saturday mail delivery. Democrats in Congress would charge employers higher premiums for federal pension guarantees. Also on the docket is whether and how to extend federal unemployment benefits, which also expire Feb. 29.