Is it too soon to declare the new Congress a failure?

Ever since their midterm triumph, the Republicans have talked tough about cutting spending. Here’s hoping they make good on those promises, but they spouted the same tough talk after their 1994 election triumph and look what happened.

Back then the GOP revolutionaries targeted more than 200 programs for complete and utter elimination. They scored some minor victories (adios helium fund!), but a decade into their “revolution” (and after they gained a Republican president) inflation-adjusted spending on the combined budgets of the 101 largest programs slated for elimination actually increased by 27 percent.  And since then total federal spending has continued to soar, so why should we take Republicans seriously this time?

The countdown to disappointment starts now.

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As voters in several states go to the polls today, a new Fabrizio McLaughlin national poll of likely voters finds treacherous ground for incumbents. 59% of voters feel the nation has “gotten off on the wrong track.” (Only 31% felt the country was heading in the right direction.) The GOP leads the generic ballot test for both House and Senate by seven points (42-35 in both) Republicans in Congress, though, have slightly lower approval ratings than Democrats. The findings show more a shift away from Democrats than a move towards the GOP.

When asked to name their top issue, 50% of likely voters names the economy or employment/jobs. Health care was the top issue for 27% while 13% listed government spending and deficits.

Likely voters split on both their personal opinion of President Obama and his job performance. 41% of likely voters had a favorable opinion of President Obama and the same number had an unfavorable opinion. 48% approved of his job performance and the same number disapproved. 38% approved the job Democrats were doing in Congress (57% disapproved) while only 33% approved of the job Republicans were doing in Congress (58% disapproved).

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