Bush Returns From Vacation to Face Busy Autumn Agenda

President Bush braced Thursday for a busy first autumn in office, a season of visits from world leaders and a potentially bruising fight with Congress over budget priorities.

The president left Texas in heavy rains, a soaking he said his parched home state needed. He came back from vacation to a balmy capital and scheduled a round of staff meetings today to plot strategy for Congress’ return after Labor Day.

Lawmakers’ first order of business is to pass 13 spending bills for Bush to sign so that the government can operate past Sept. 30, the end of the current fiscal year.

Bush said he is well rested after 26 days away from Washington, most of his time spent on his ranch near Crawford, Texas.

Bush will receive Mexican President Vicente Fox on Wednesday in the first official state visit of his presidency.

The following day, Bush and Fox will travel to Toledo, Ohio, to talk about improving education for the United States’ growing Latino communities.

Bush said his other plans for the fall include traveling the country, “speaking about my agenda and the values behind it.”