The question is not why they were gone so long amidst recession and myriad problems from deficits and tax rates to housing and energy.
We know why they were gone. Congress always takes most of August off and many members spend a lot of that time connecting to folks back home — especially in election years such as this one.
The question is why they came back.
Did they come back because they wanted to accomplish something in the remaining weeks before the election? Or did they come back just to continue the politicking that has dominated the Hill in recent months in anticipation of that election? It's a bipartisan question.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/watchingwashington/2010/09/13/129830695/congress-is-back-but-why