White House says Congress shouldn't sidestep Islamic State measure

By Susan Cornwell WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough on Sunday said the Republican-led Congress should not sidestep the president's request to formally authorise military action against Islamic State forces, saying lawmakers must not "take a pass". Under President Barack Obama's orders, the U.S. military has carried out air strikes against Islamic State forces in Iraq and Syria since last summer but has done so without explicit authorization from Congress. Obama se