House Democrats on Thursday criticized the GOP for shortening the schedule to go home and campaign.

House lawmakers are expected to wrap up business Thursday and not return until the “lame duck” session after the Nov. 4 election.

Initially, the House was to remain in session until Oct. 2, with a weeklong break scheduled in September.

“We were supposed to go home in October,” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said at an afternoon news conference.

“The American people have to ask, 'what do you do for a living? What do you do for my living? What do you do for me?' ”

Senate Democrats, who run that chamber, also plan to adjourn this week to campaign for the election, sparking outrage among Republicans, who say they should remain in session to pass important GOP-authored bills.

House Democrats said Thursday they want Republican House Speaker John Boehner to take up a string of measures they say would boost jobs and provide better pay for women, minorities and low-income workers. Democrats also complained that Boehner has refused to take up a Senate-passed comprehensive immigration reform bill or legislation requiring stricter background checks on gun purchases.

The House has instead taken up a series of measures aimed at increasing domestic energy production and reducing government regulations. Many of the bills were already passed earlier this year in the House but have died in the Democratically led Senate.

“The same leaders who won’t bring up those bills are saying it’s time to go home,” Pelosi said.