Members return to their districts to campaign for re-election while:

• Only one of the 13 spending bills that pay for the government during fiscal year 2004-05 has been signed into law. They were due Oct. 1. At stake: $1 million for a Northern Kentucky University science center and $550,000 to help fight sewer overflows in Hamilton County, among other things.

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• A giant transportation bill due last year continues in limbo as House, Senate and White House officials try to figure out how much to spend. At stake: the fate of the Brent Spence Bridge, the Waldvogel Viaduct and other local road projects.

• Intelligence reform the 9/11 Commission deems urgent remains unfinished.

Retired teacher Dave Bean, 63, of Mason, gives Congress an incomplete.

"As far as Congress heading home, that is typical of today's politician," Bean said. "They do not want to do anything except avoid getting someone upset just before an election."

The pols will be back after Nov. 2 for a lame duck session. But even then some of the budget may be put off until the new Congress convenes in January. The road bill already has been put off for the next Congress.

"It seems like this happens every year. It's a disgrace," said Scott Milburn, spokesman for GOP Sen. George Voinovich. "The solution is for people to put aside partisanship and focus on doing the people's business."

Voinovich is on the joint House-Senate committee that's been trying to come up with a final compromise on the road bill.

"He's been frustrated by the slow pace of progress because that's money that needs to go to Ohio. Negotiations need to go quicker. He has not been bashful about expressing that, too," Milburn said.

Don't worry, said Steve Forde, a spokesman for GOP Rep. John Boehner of West Chester.

On many issues, it's best to wait until after the election anyway, so politics doesn't drive the agenda any more than necessary, he said.

"And let's be honest. Some of the federal government's best work is work left unfinished," Forde said. "No action is often better than any action at all."

Stocking stuffer? Attention Rep. Rob Portman, Geoff Davis and Sen. Mitch McConnell: Entertain friends and visitors with a two-DVD set of the entire Republican National Convention. Portman, Northern Kentucky candidate Davis, and McConnell all spoke at the New York City convention.

"Skip to your favorite clip or watch all the speeches, performers and videos - it's all at your fingertips with this DVD," said Jim Dyke of the Republican National Committee. All for the low, low price of $19.95 at www.gop.com/conventionDVD.

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E-mail cweiser@gannett.com.