CNN's Athena Jones reports on Congress’ return to Capitol Hill and the loads of unfinished business

Congress is back in session today for an abbreviated, pre-election period. The issues at hand are taxes and spending cuts, but mostly preventing a government shutdown later this month. CNN’s Athena Jones talks to John Berman on “Early Start” this morning with the latest developments from Washington.

“We’re all expecting them to pass what’s called a continuing resolution,” Jones says. “It’s a short term measure to fund the government. They’ve got to pass that by the end of this month.” Jones says, “It’s got to get to the president’s desk in order to keep everything running and avoid a shut down.”

Jones says the House of Representatives is expected to vote on that on Thursday, the Senate by next week. “That’s about the only must pass bit of legislation,” she says. Other bills, “are things that they may do or could do.”

A according to the latest WSJ/NBC poll, 82% disapprove of Congress. “Part of that probably has to do with the fact that there’s been so much haggling and so much division and not a lot of getting things done,” Jones says.

As for the fiscal cliff issue, “It’s really anybody’s guess as to what’s going to happen,” Jones says, “because the divisions are still strong and still remain.”