They are paid by your tax dollars to fight for you and your families in Washington.
But it turns out members of Congress are just getting less and less productive.
Last week's failure to reach a deal on the sequester was just one example of a growing trend by our representatives of putting politics over service.
More and more people seem to be asking, is Washington broken?
"Tell me if you think I should call her," asked Rep. Scott Perry.
It was sequester deadline day, and freshman congressman Scott Perry found himself in his home distraught, not in Washington D.C. trying to reach a deal.
"Am I surprised by it? No, but am I disappointed by it? Absolutely," stated Perry.
Lawmakers walked away and headed home Thursday, with all hopes of reaching a deal gone.
Ten-term Congressman Elijah Cummings was also visibly frustrated.
“I came to Washington to make sure that we help our people live the very best lives that they can," argued Rep. Cummings.
So with the same goals in the same jobs, why can't Congress seem to ever get anything done?
“Politicians, they say things to get re-elected,” David Williams said.
The never ending need to campaign and fundraise, combined with increased polarization made the last congress the least productive in at least 65 years. Passing just 151 bills according to the Library of Congress.
Perhaps it's no wonder at one point their approval rating dipped down to nine percent. The sequester provided yet another example of two sides unwilling to budge.
"This is totally avoidable,” added Democratic Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland. “This is a self-inflicted problem on our nation."
Critics argue it's more Washington-inflicted and that the president is also to blame.
“How can the Congress accomplish anything if the President won’t compromise?” questioned economist Peter Morici.
Senator Rand Paul says the larger the beast, the harder it is to tame.
“Government is so large that you can‘t throw a stone without hitting waste or without hitting an outrageous example of spending," Paul stated.
No matter where we go from here, a new congressman reminds us of a very old truth.
"The way our system works, we need both sides to be engaged in the conversation because we can't move forward without it,” Scott Perry concluded.
Just how much faith do people have in Washington to fix major problems like the economy?
A Washington Post poll shows fewer than one in four people trust the politicians in D.C.
.
Have you lost faith in Washington as a whole, or are you confident that broken Washington can be repaired?
Tell us on your Facebook page.
But it turns out members of Congress are just getting less and less productive.
Last week's failure to reach a deal on the sequester was just one example of a growing trend by our representatives of putting politics over service.
More and more people seem to be asking, is Washington broken?
"Tell me if you think I should call her," asked Rep. Scott Perry.
It was sequester deadline day, and freshman congressman Scott Perry found himself in his home distraught, not in Washington D.C. trying to reach a deal.
"Am I surprised by it? No, but am I disappointed by it? Absolutely," stated Perry.
Lawmakers walked away and headed home Thursday, with all hopes of reaching a deal gone.
Ten-term Congressman Elijah Cummings was also visibly frustrated.
“I came to Washington to make sure that we help our people live the very best lives that they can," argued Rep. Cummings.
So with the same goals in the same jobs, why can't Congress seem to ever get anything done?
“Politicians, they say things to get re-elected,” David Williams said.
The never ending need to campaign and fundraise, combined with increased polarization made the last congress the least productive in at least 65 years. Passing just 151 bills according to the Library of Congress.
Perhaps it's no wonder at one point their approval rating dipped down to nine percent. The sequester provided yet another example of two sides unwilling to budge.
"This is totally avoidable,” added Democratic Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland. “This is a self-inflicted problem on our nation."
Critics argue it's more Washington-inflicted and that the president is also to blame.
“How can the Congress accomplish anything if the President won’t compromise?” questioned economist Peter Morici.
Senator Rand Paul says the larger the beast, the harder it is to tame.
“Government is so large that you can‘t throw a stone without hitting waste or without hitting an outrageous example of spending," Paul stated.
No matter where we go from here, a new congressman reminds us of a very old truth.
"The way our system works, we need both sides to be engaged in the conversation because we can't move forward without it,” Scott Perry concluded.
Just how much faith do people have in Washington to fix major problems like the economy?
A Washington Post poll shows fewer than one in four people trust the politicians in D.C.
.
Have you lost faith in Washington as a whole, or are you confident that broken Washington can be repaired?
Tell us on your Facebook page.