Photo:Dean Terry, Creative Commons, Flickr

The Senate's defense authorization bill brings the debate on Iraq back to center stage this week, with senators possibly voting on amendments to: start withdrawing troops in 120 days, with most out by next April; repeal the original authorization to go to war; set minimum breaks for soldiers in between deployments and; put in place all 79 recommendations of the Iraq Study Group.

The House keeps its eye on the home front, with votes slated this week to reauthorize the FDA (HR 2900), as well as to cut middle class families some slack on paying college tuition and give the feds more flexibility on doling out Section 8 housing vouchers (HR 1851).