FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In Washington, D.C., they're back on the Hill -- Capitol Hill, that is. Congress is back in session this morning, and we've put in a "Wake-Up Call" to our D.C. producer, Ted Barrett, to find out just what the top issues are facing Congress. Good morning to you -- Ted.</s>TED BARRETT, CNN CONGRESSIONAL PRODUCER: Well, good morning, Fredricka. You know, in Iraq -- on Iraq, there have been Democrats and Republican lawmakers critical of the administration's handling of post-war Iraq. Lawmakers say that over the recess they got an earful from constituents concerned about the direction of things there. In the weeks ahead, the White House will be asking for lots more money for military operations and reconstruction. So, members will be carefully and actively monitoring developments there. After the White House announced Wednesday that it would seek broader U.N. involvement in Iraq, several GOP critics said they were pleased with the new policy. Democrats, however, said it was evidence that the previous White House approach had failed.</s>WHITFIELD: And, Ted, you talk about a lot of money. The White House is proposing somewhere between $60 billion and $70 billion. I imagine that a number of members up on the Hill are going to say we need a better explanation now of some plans in place, since many have expressed being very dissatisfied with not getting that earlier on.</s>BARRETT: That's absolutely right. Iraq will be front and center. Just next week, there will be hearings on Capitol Hill, both in the House and Senate side, in which that number of $60 billion, which has been floated out there, will be examined very carefully to determine exactly how it will be used -- how it will be used and what it will be used for.</s>WHITFIELD: All right, Ted Barrett, thanks very much. Thanks for waking up with us this morning. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Wake-Up Call: Back on Capitol Hill