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New Poll Shows Americans Disapprove Of Job Congress Is Doing

By David Madden

TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) -- A newly released national poll suggests that not only are Americans dissatisfied with Congress, but they also seem resigned to the idea that little can be done to change things in Washington.

The Monmouth University Polling Institute talked to 1,000 adults coast to coast in late July. Congress gets a 14% approval rating. Poll director Patrick Murray says it really doesn't matter who's in charge at either end of Pennsylvania Avenue.

"Not everybody knows who's in control," Murray says. "It's just they consider it all a mess. In fact, we found that just a third of Americans knew that the Republicans control the house and Democrats control the senate."

So what if one party ran the whole thing?

43% felt it would make no difference. 24% believe things would be better. 20% worse. And more than half believe a President can't do much on Capitol Hill, even if a President's party controlled the Congress as well.

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