Gallup: Approval of Congress Went Up After Gov’t Shutdown of 1995-96

Cybercast News Service ^ | October 1, 2013 - 8:44 AM | Terence P. Jeffrey

[Olog-hai]

After the federal government shutdown for 21 days from mid-December 1995 to early January 1996, the percentage of Americans who said they approved of the job Congress was doing increased, according to the Gallup poll.

At the same time, the percentage of Americans who said they approved of the job then-President Bill Clinton was doing remained the same, and the percentage who said they approved of the job then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich was doing dropped by only two points.

The government shutdown from Dec. 16, 1995 to Jan. 6, 1996, occurred when the Republican-controlled House of Representatives was trying to get President Clinton to agree to a spending plan that would put the federal government on the path to a balanced budget within seven years. …

[lonestar67]

I am glad this was reported but it still makes me sad.

Cybercast does not even seem capable of getting this right.

If you click on the Gallup link, you find out some rather devastating facts that no one seems to be reporting:

1. Clinton’s approval fell 10 points as a result of the shutdown.
2. Gingrich’s approval went up immediately after the shutdown [Gallup table says NA but text says it went up]
3. Gallup seems to be hiding some post shutdown data.

In sum, it seems rather clear that the first shutdown hurt Clinton more than Gingirch. Gingrich actually gained in the immediate aftermath.

It ends up being all about spin in months following.

Moreover, no one seems to discuss the other major effects:

1. Republican control of Congress continues in 1996 leading to dramatic deficit reduction and economic growth.

2. Clinton wins with less than a majority in 96 because of Perot.

I really believe it is fairly outrageous to believe that the Republicans lost the budget battle to Clinton.

Clinton also backed down and conceded the ‘era of big government is over’

[elpadre]

Do they ever ask the public their opinion of the House and Senate separate rather than the Congress as a whole. Actually the House has done some good things whereas he Senate is a cruel joke.