Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Members of Utah’s all-Republican congressional delegation face some significant pressure to perform in the 114th Congress, if the results of a new poll are an indication.
The UtahPolicy.com – Dan Jones & Associates poll found nearly 74 percent of those surveyed agree that Utah’s congressional delegation should be held accountable if the GOP-controlled Congress becomes “dysfunctional.”
Republicans polled didn’t cut their own much more slack than that. Almost 65 percent agreed there should be accountability.
“Three of our six members of our congressional delegation are chairs of very powerful congressional committees,” said Tim Chambless, associate professor of political science at the University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute of Politics. “Utahns expect results.”
In the 114th Congress, Sen. Orrin Hatch is the new chair of the Senate finance committee. Rep. Jason Chaffetz takes over as the chair of the House oversight committee. Rep. Rob Bishop heads the House natural resources committee.
Three of the six members of our congressional delegation are chairs of very powerful congressional committees. Utahns expect results.
–Tim Chambless, assoc. professor of political science
The Pew Research Center found the 113th Congress was the second-least productive since 1947, only surpassing the Congress before it. “We look at what the 113th Congress did and 112th Congress during the past four years and we see record inaction, lack of productivity, continuing resolutions, inability to address real problems,” Chambless said. “We would hope that this Congress will be active, productive and will be sending bills to the White House that the president can sign instead of veto.”
Chambless said this Congress boasts the most Republican members since just after World War II, and there are a number of issues on which to take action – from pending budget bills to military efforts abroad to immigration reform.
“These are things I’m going to be looking at very carefully,” Chambless said.
Prospective future voters also said Tuesday that they’d be watching.
“It seems to me that there’s kind of an endless cycle of nothing going on,” Alex Carr said. “I think everybody should be held accountable for their position, whether it’s in the government or a company or for their actions in any sort of way.”
Sam Spencer also said there should be accountability for Utah’s Republicans — along with their colleagues across the country — if the 114th Congress ends in more inaction.
“If nothing still gets done, they’re definitely to blame,” Spencer said.
