Just two words can make all the difference. In this case, the operative descriptors are: Republican controlled.
A recent Morning Consult poll on how voters view the first 100 days of the 114th Congress shows just how much partisanship colors the lens through which Americans view the legislature.
The survey split respondents into two groups. The first group was asked whether they had a favorable or unfavorable opinion of how the current Congress has handled issues of health, energy, finance and technology in its first 100 days.
The other half received a survey asking them to give their opinion on the “Republican-controlled” Congress.
The difference was significant.
On health and finance, GOP voters were more than twice as likely to have a favorable opinion if they were asked about the Republican-controlled Congress.
Health issues showed the widest gap. Without the reminder that Republicans were in charge of both chambers on Capitol Hill, 26 percent of Republican voters said they have a favorable opinion of Congress’s handling of health issues so far this year. Sixty-three percent have an unfavorable opinion.