WASHINGTON (August 3, 2012)--After a final day of partisan battles over drought relief and cybersecurity, Congress left Washington for five weeks of vacation and prospects of a fall when they’ll face decisions on the political and economic future of the country.

Most lawmakers headed home to make their party's case for who should be entitled to tax cuts, how the government should avoid automatic cuts to defense and domestic programs and who should be the next president.

Many will drop by either the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., or Democratic convention in Charlotte, N.C.

On the last day before the recess, lawmakers fell short of finding agreement on how to help livestock producers suffering from the widespread drought and how to protect critical industries from cyberattacks launched by terrorists or other enemies.