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After the debt-ceiling deal was sealed last week, sleep-deprived members of both chambers of Congress high-tailed it out of DC for a summer recess. The twist is, both chambers are technically still in session. Marian Wang at ProPublica reported last week that avoiding an official adjournment allows House Republicans to block the President’s ability to make recess appointments. The exodus of lawmakers also brought attention to a protracted budget impasse that was overshadowed by the debt-ceiling crisis, but lasted nearly as long: the Federal Aviation Administration’s funding expired on July 22nd of this year. Furloughs went into effect, putting tens of thousands of employees out of work. On Thursday, responding to political pressure, the House and Senate resumed its work long enough to pass a temporary funding authorization bill, set to expire in mid-September. The FAA has gone without a long-term funding bill since September 2007, causing it to operate under 21 short-term spending fixes. This time, budget negotiations stalled over two issues. Republicans want to change the rules around how the union votes of aviation and railroad workers are tallied, a move opposed by Democrats. Republicans also wanted to end subsidies to airlines that fly into rural airports. The deal brokered on Thursday conceded this, but Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced he will try to reinstate the subsidies.

GUEST: Marian Wang is ProPublica’s first reporter-blogger.

Find out more at www.propublica.org.

Read Marian Wang’s article here: http://www.propublica.org/blog/item/while-on-summer-recess-congress-blocks-recess-appointments/