House will return to five-day work week in 2009

House Democratic leaders have decided to lengthen the congressional workweek next year as they try to implement President-elect Obama’s agenda and clear a backlog of priorities no longer subject to the veto of President Bush.

{mosads}House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) released a 2009 schedule on Friday that includes 11 five-day weeks and 18 four-day weeks. The House is scheduled to be in session for 137 days before the target adjournment date of Oct. 30.

The five-day workweek had been a signature of the Democrats’ return to power in 2007, but they gave it up in the 2008 election year.

The 2008 schedule included 13 Mondays and 12 Fridays, in contrast to 11 Mondays and 10 Fridays when Republicans controlled the House in 2006.

Democratic leaders made little mention of the change as they released the calendar late on Friday.

“The House vote schedule for 2009 will help us confront the challenges that face our country, while allowing adequate time for members to meet with their constituents and conduct important business in their districts,” Hoyer said in a statement.

The schedule has the House starting with swearing-in on Jan. 6. That starts a four-day week, then another three-day week before inauguration week.