By JM Rieger and Emma Dumain

House lawmakers left for a two-week recess on a high note Thursday, with members of both parties banding together in nearly equal measure to pass a substantive piece of legislation. But unlike the longevity of the bill that permanently ends the “sustainable growth rate” used to calculate doctors’ payments for Medicare, and extends for two years the Children’s Health Insurance Program, it’s highly doubtful the bipartisan comity will endure. At his weekly news conference, Speaker John A. Boehner was not asked if this was the start of a new, more productive working relationship between the leaders. Rather, reporters wanted to know when the next time might be that Boehner will “need” Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to help pass crucial legislative priorities, the assumption being that the speaker will rarely be able to corral his ideologically disparate caucus around bills that need to advance. “When I see one, I’ll let you know,” Boehner replied.