Washington ( CNN ) -- The smell of exhaust from idling cars fills up the Capitol parking lot . Congressional aides have their engines revved -- ready to whisk their bosses to train stations and airports as soon as they cast their last vote . It 's a familiar scene when Congress is getting ready to leave town , especially for an extended period . But this time the race for a six-week respite feels different . There is bipartisan consensus that the United States is now at war with ISIS and that Congress should be a part of the decision-making process on how to deal with that , by passing a new authorization for military force . Bill Clinton : U.S. has proven it ca n't win an Iraq land war without Iraqis . But Congress took off to go campaign full time to try to keep their jobs rather than staying to do their jobs . `` There is broad agreement in the country that this ISIS group is a threat , '' Rep. Chaka Fattah , D-Pennsylvania , told CNN . `` So why not stay and debate it and not go home if your constituents believe it 's a threat ? '' we asked . `` I do n't disagree , '' Fattah replied . `` I 'm prepared to vote yes . So I 'm not ducking any vote . '' `` It 's ridiculous , '' Rep. Jared Polis , D-Colorado , said a few minutes later . `` As if there is not enough to do and it 's not just the war issues , it 's immigration reform , ENDA ( Employment Nondiscrimination Act ) -- it 's a number of different bills that have been filed that have bipartisan support , '' Polis said . It is true that rank-and-file House members , especially those like Fattah and Polis who are in the minority party , do n't have much choice but to follow the schedule leaders lay out . Still , as we weaved through the slew of waiting cars to talk to lawmakers before they left , it was striking -- but not surprising -- the way blame was tossed around . Republicans blamed the Democrat-controlled Senate . `` The problem is that we have a do-nothing Senate , '' Sen. Ted Cruz , R-Texas , said . Republicans also blamed the president . Rep. Richard Hudson , R-North Carolina , said he 'd be glad to vote for a new use-of-force authorization against ISIS . `` I wish the President would ask for one , '' Hudson said . Obama : ISIS threat against U.S. , allies 'does n't frighten us ' Democrats noted that leaving now has become a tradition to help the House , where Republicans are a majority . `` The House of Representatives runs every two years , and for many , many years the House has adjourned for the month of October . '' Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri said . Some senators were openly appalled that colleagues were heading home . Freshman Sen. Deb Fischer , R-Nebraska , had publicly urged her colleagues to stay , to no avail . `` We need to be here we need to debate this issue , '' Fischer told us . Sen. Susan Collins , R-Maine , is on the ballot in November , but hers is a safe seat . Going home to campaign is not her first priority . `` My job is to be in the Capitol working for the people of Maine and the American people and that 's where I think we all belong now , '' said Collins , standing in the Capitol parking lot , pointing to the dome . Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-South Carolina , who won his big primary fight earlier this year and should face an easy reelection in November , had a trademark pithy synopsis . `` We seem to be more worried about who runs the place than how the place runs , '' he said . Ultimately , all the lawmakers who complained and called it important to stay got in their cars and left , too . There 's no reason to stay -- there are no more votes until after the election . Fresh act : 87-year-old felon Edwin Edwards wants back in . CNN 's Adam P. Levy contributed to this report .
Congress leaves town to work full - time , with no vote yet on ISIS . Republicans blame for not voting , Democrats blame Republicans . Some members of Congress are openly appalled that their colleagues leave town .