Obama has lame duck wish list for Congress -- but maybe not immigration and energy

Congress is on recess for the Nov. 2 elections, but the Obama administration has a wish list for lame duck members who return after the balloting.

It includes a nuclear arms reduction treaty with Russia, and the fate of the George W. Bush tax cuts -- but not necessarily the hot button topics of immigration and a "cap-and-trade" energy plan to restrict greenhouse gas emissions.

"We've got a START treaty that we believe needs to be ratified through the Senate," said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs. "Obviously, a fairly large tax debate is going to have to be settled before the end of the year."

In addition: "We have the reauthorization of the children's nutrition program. There are a whole host of judgeships that have languished for far too long. And I anticipate that we'll have a new budget director that will be confirmed by the full Senate."

And what about immigration and energy?

Hypothetical.

"I can't look into my crystal ball," Gibbs said. "Obviously, the president continues to believe that energy and immigration are tremendously important priorities."

(Posted by David Jackson)