Congress' Approval Rating Lowest Ever

Congress’ approval rating has once again sunk to its nadir, a mere 12%, a New York Times/CBS News poll finds. That figure was first hit in October 2008, in the throes of the economic crisis. While just 28% of voters approve of the work of congressional Democrats, only 19% approve of the job congressional Republicans are doing, the Times reports. Within their own parties, half of Republican voters disapprove of congressional Republicans, while some 43% of Democratic voters disapprove of Dems on Capitol Hill.

Independents approve of congressional Democrats slightly more than they do congressional Republicans. Just 6% of voters think most of Congress deserves to be re-elected; 84% want to give someone else a shot—another poll record. “Congress used to be able to compromise and come together to make decisions after a period of discussion,” notes one Democratic voter. But now they’re “in it for themselves, and not for the citizens of the United States.” Click through for more poll results.