Forget Lake George, Speaker Boehner. Get back to Washington.

That's the message — more flowery language, of course — that Rep. Bill Owens, D-Plattsburgh, is sending to House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.

"It is unacceptable for the House to leave Washington without approving its version of the bill so that negotiations may begin between the House and Senate on a final version to send to the President," Rep. Bill Owens, D-Plattsburgh, said in a news release. "I urge Speaker Boehner to call the full House back to work, and both parties to work together to get this done.”

Mr. Boehner will attend a fundraiser for Matt Doheny, Mr. Owens' Nov. 6 opponent, in Lake George later today.

There are only 13 days left in the legislative calendar, and it's possible that the renewal of the farm bill could stall out before the deadline, which is the end of September.

UPDATE:

A spokesman for Mr. Boehner emails the following:

"This week the House passed a responsible bill to help farmers and ranchers who are suffering from drought. It's unfortunate that Mr. Owens voted 'no' and is standing with the members of his party in the Senate who continue to block this relief package from getting to those in need."

A spokesman for Mr. Owens said in an email that the drought bill didn't include any relief for upstate farmers who are reeling from Hurricane irene and Tropical Storm Lee.

"The drought aid legislation was completely unrelated to the Farm Bill, and many in the Republican Party also voted against it because House Leadership has so far refused to bring the bipartisan Farm Bill up for a vote," Mr. Magers said in an email.

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