CONGRESS’S APPROVAL RATING: IN THE TANK:

The debate seems to have driven down the overall approval rating of Congress. One year ago, 30 percent approved of the legislative body. By January, that had slipped to 23 percent. Last month it fell to 15 percent, and in the latest poll it stands at 14 percent. Seventy-six percent of those surveyed say they disapprove of the job Congress is doing.

It has also driven negative perceptions of Washington. More than half of those surveyed said the health care debate made them “more pessimistic” about Washington, while just 14 percent said it made them more optimistic. Twenty-eight percent said the debate made no difference.

Asked if their opinion of the health care bill matched up with that of their representative, more than half of those surveyed said they weren’t sure. One in four said no, while 18 percent said yes.

One in four said their representative’s vote on the bill would make it more likely they would support them in the November midterm elections. A higher percentage — 31 percent — said the vote would make it less likely that they would support their representative. Four in ten said it would not make a difference.

Interesting.