From Deseret News archives:
Lawmakers fare poorly in poll
Satisfaction with Congress is almost as low as for Bush
Although the year started with a constant message of bipartisanship and cooperation, the past few months have brought bitter political standoffs on Iraq and a host of domestic issues such as health care, education, the environment and energy.
The survey found only 35 percent approve of how Congress is handling its job, down 5 percentage points in a month. That gives lawmakers the same bleak approval rating as Bush, who has been mired at about that level since last fall, including his dip to a record low for the AP-Ipsos poll of 32 percent last January.
Democrats and Republicans point to the Iraq war as causing problems for the Bush presidency but two of Utah's five-member congressional delegation also point to the new Democratic majority.
Rep. Jim Matheson, the lone Democrat in Utah's delegation, said, "I think this poll reflects how disappointed people are with the partisanship in Washington. Most people expect, when they elect us, that we will work hard and make progress on issues, and until we do that, the ratings won't improve."
Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, said the dissatisfaction with Bush and Congress is "not about one issue."
"It is the perception, in most cases true, that we are 'fiddling while Rome burns,'" Cannon said. "The message of 2006, to a conservative like me, was: end corruption; shrink the government; and solve problems without regard to credit. We have ignored those lessons to our own peril."
Cannon said both parties have focused too much on who gets credit for things.
The offices of Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, and Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, did not comment on the poll.
Democrats agree that the problem is largely Iraq, which has dominated this year's session of Congress while producing little more than this month's Bush veto of a bill requiring the withdrawal of U.S. troops. It has also overshadowed House-passed bills on stem-cell research, student loans and other subjects that the White House opposes, they say.
Comments
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime 1:11 a.m.
- UVU beats SUU; USU wins big 12:57 a.m.
- BYU spikers end season with a loss 12:55 a.m.
- Iverson may be headed to 76ers 12:34 a.m.
- Credit Coug defense for win 12:33 a.m.
- Aggies blow away T-birds 12:32 a.m.
- Mo steals show in Cavaliers' victory 12:31 a.m.
- Editorial: Facilitate Big Brother? 12:22 a.m.
- Mom befriends wife of PTSD vet 12:21 a.m.
- Political clash over U.S. debt 12:21 a.m.
- Cave to be sealed with body inside
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- Predicting the unpredictable: BYU wins
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- BYU is champion of the state
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- Idaho woman dies after fall
- Woods, wife unavailable for interview
- Vegas, Poinsettia bowls or bust
- Man dies in dirt bike crash
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
396 - Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
150 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
115 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
115 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
88 - Hall's legacy measured today
75 - Y. focused on 10-win season
73 - Letters: C02 causes warming
70
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
watch out for next year for sure, the negatives are just closet (and...
And something else, I generally follow players from the state schools when...
I could care less that Max Hall said what he did. The feeling is mutual BYU...
Dear Max, probably could have done without that comment. Probably would've...
As a Utah fan, let me first say congratulations to Max Hall, the Cougars, and...
Geno's and Pat's are good.. but, they are mostly for tourists, the real...
(You even got a middle initial... how's that for 'ya Max) It's nice to see...
Even today, I still cannot get enough of this movie or Charles Gitonga Maina....
...disappointed with Max Hall's comments that he hates everything about UofU....
Over the last few days I read comments of people complaining about tasteless...




You can be the first to comment on this story.