Poll: This is a 'do-nothing' Congress

By CNN Political Unit

Dec. 26, 2013

WASHINGTON (CNN) – The worst Congress ever.

That’s the verdict from two-thirds of Americans about the track record of the 113th Congress, according to a new national poll. And a CNN/ORC International poll released Thursday also indicates that nearly three-quarters of the public say that this has been a “do-nothing” Congress.

Two-thirds of those questioned said the current Congress is the worst in their lifetime, with 28% disagreeing.

“That sentiment exists among all demographic and political subgroups. Men, women, rich, poor, young, old – all think this year’s Congress has been the worst they can remember,” CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said. “Older Americans – who have lived through more congresses – hold more negative views of the 113th Congress than younger Americans. Republicans, Democrats and independents also agree that this has been the worst session of Congress in their lifetimes.”

According to the survey, 73% say that this Congress has so far done nothing to address the country’s problems, with one in four disagreeing.

Even though it did pass a budget agreement, fewer than 60 bills have been signed into law during the first year of the two-year long 113th Congress, according to CNN analysis and by other news organizations as well. Assuming lawmakers don’t pick up the pace next year, and that’s a safe bet as 2014 is an election year, this will become the least productive Congress in at least the last four decades.

The poll also indicates there’s little optimism for the future.

“Negative attitudes extend to both sides of the aisle: 52% believe that the policies of the Democratic leaders in Congress would move the country in the wrong direction; 54% say the same about the policies of congressional Republicans,” Holland said.

And 54% say the same thing about President Barack Obama’s policies

The poll was conducted for CNN by ORC International on December 16-19, with 1,035 adults nationwide questioned by telephone. The survey’s overall sampling error is plus or minus three percentage points.

–CNN Political Editor Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.