Busy lame-duck session awaits Congress

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- The swearing-in of two Democratic senators kicks off the lame-duck session of the U.S. Congress Monday.

Senators-elect Chris Coons of Delaware and Joe Manchin of West Virginia are to take office late in the afternoon, The Hill reported. They are being sworn in before January, when the next Congress convenes, because they were elected to complete unexpired terms.

Republican Senator-elect Mark Kirk of Illinois, elected to complete the rest of President Obama's Senate term, will be sworn in after Illinois state officials certify election results and could take the oath of office by Nov. 29, congressional aides said.

On Tuesday, the two parties will elect their leadership, The Hill said.

The Senate on Wednesday is expected to vote to proceed to three bills: the Promoting Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles Act, the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Food Safety Modernization Act.

The day after the Nov. 2 election -- in which Democrats lost their majority in the House and had their majority drop in the Senate -- Democratic senators agreed to make extending middle-class tax cuts their highest priority in December, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said. Republicans, however, are balking at extending the tax cuts for some but not for families earning more than $250,000.

The tax cuts passed in 2001 and 2003 during President George W. Bush's administration will expire at the end of the year if no action is taken.