(WASHINGTON, D.C.) -- With the congressional standoff over a payroll tax cuts taking place on Capitol Hill, North Carolina Congressman Howard Coble is still on the sidelines. He has been hospitalized since Dec. 14 with an upper respiratory infection.

The Republican Congressman is anxious to get out of the hospital. "He's been good," said Coble spokesman Ed McDonald. "He's been agitated at times wanting to know when he can get out of there and when he can get back to work, but we've tried to stress to him that the doctors are saying that it's very important that you rest.  It's not in his nature."

Doctors want to keep Coble in the hospital at least until Wednesday or Thursday.

(Thanks to: WSJS)