8 in 10 say Congress doesn't deserve recess, poll shows
More than eight in 10 voters say Congress hasn't worked hard enough to take five weeks off, according to a new poll.
Members of Congress left Washington last Friday, leaving behind a daunting to-do list: While issues like immigration reform and gun control remain on the backburner, the legislature must pass a bill to fund the government (called a continuing resolution) by Sept. 30 or risk letting federal operations partially shut down. Given the trouble the House had last month with just one transportation bill -- the GOP-led House could not find the votes for it, because it allocated so little money to federal transportation spending -- the vote on a continuing resolution could prove to be difficult. Congress returns to Washington next month, but the House is only scheduled to be in session nine days in September.
Lawmakers use their five weeks off to go on vacation but also to meet with constituents in their districts.
The Fox News survey found that Republicans and Democrats are generally in agreement that Congress doesn't deserve five weeks off, though they're split on whether President Obama deserves the week of vacation he's taking this month. Overall, voters are split: 48 percent say Mr. Obama deserves his vacation, while 48 percent say he doesn't. Eighty percent of Democrats say he deserves the break, but just 36 percent of independents and 23 percent of Republicans agree.
The poll, conducted Aug. 3-5, surveyed 1,007 registered voters nationwide and has a three-point margin of error.
