Congress Reaches New Low

According to the latest Gallup Poll Congressional approval ratings have hit another record low. Their approval ratings have dropped 5% over the last month from 19% to a new low of 14% for the month of July. Over the last 34 years that Gallup has been doing this poll Congressional approval ratings have only dropped below 20% 6 times. The current Congress managed to do this 4 of those 6 times, this month, June, May, and in August 2007. Most of this dip came from Democrats who report only an 11% approval of this Congress. Republicans are more supportive of this Democratic controlled Congress with a 19% approval rating. But it doesn’t matter since they are guaranteed pay raises under federal employees cost-of-living allowance raise COLA program. This year, while attaining such record breaking approval ratings, they received salaries of $169,300, a boost of $4,100 over the pay they have lived with since January 2006. The newly elected Democrats forgo last years pay raise until the minimum wage increase to $5.15 was passed. The sad part is we will re-elect most of the incumbents that face an election this year.
Alan Cosgrove