Current Session of Congress Died As It Lived

The current session of Congress finally closed its doors this past week with voters remaining largely as critical of it as they have been for months.
 
 A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 13% of Likely U.S. Voters rate Congress’ performance as good or excellent, consistent with surveys for much of the last two years. Fifty-three percent (53%) say it’s been doing a poor job. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
 
 Republicans are twice as likely as Democrats to rate Congress’ work as poor, a view shared by 58% of voters not affiliated with either of the major parties.
 
 Late last month, before the lame duck session voted to extend the Bush tax cuts for all Americans, Congress received good or excellent marks from only 11% of all voters and a grade of poor from 60%.  The latest poor finding is the lowest Congress has received since October 2009.
 
 This session of Congress has never won any popularity contests. Its best showing was in May 2009 when 23% gave it good or excellent marks and only 44% rated it poor. In surveys since it opened for business in January 2009, this Congress has earned good or excellent marks ranging from 10% to 23% and poor marks running from 43% to 71%.

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