The Senate starts the week topping off college legislation with a bill that would keep an eye on tuition spikes and keep a leash on sweet deals between lenders and financial aid officers. Next up, senators will vote on their first '08 spending bill, a $38 billion Homeland Security measure, S 1644. If there's time left, senators may also beef up SCHIP, a program that covers health insurance for low income kids and their families; the going plan would add $35 billion to SCHIP over the next five years, paid for by a 61 cent tax on cigarettes.

The House sticks with budgeting in the first half of the week – with votes on a $104 billion transportation and housing bill, HR 3074, and a $54 billion bill, HR 3093, covering commerce, justice and science funding – before it dives into reauthorizing the massive farm bill.

Photo:acidcookie, Creative Commons, Flickr