Lawmakers: We Hate Congress, Too

You can add one more group to the long list of those who hate Congress—members of Congress. News that Congress' approval rating has hit a record low of 9% has left many lawmakers wondering just who the 9% are, Politico finds. “We’re below sharks and contract killers,” says a freshman Republican lawmaker from South Carolina. Instead of soul-searching, however, members of Congress blame the unpopularity on each other, the economy, President Obama, and even the public's failure to understand how Congress works.

“It’s so bad sometimes I tell people I’m a lawyer,” says Sen. Lindsey Graham. “I don’t want to be associated with a body that in the eyes of your fellow citizens seems to be dysfunctional. It matters to me." But there's still some hope around on Capitol Hill: Republicans believe they can capitalize on public anger to win back the Senate next year and Democrats believe they, in turn, can recapture the House. The double switch would be a first in US history. (More Congress stories.)