Statues at the Capitol honor Americans like social commentator Will Rogers, who famously said, "Every time they make a joke, it's a law, and every time they make a law, it's a joke." This sentiment resonates with nearly 9 in 10 Americans who express dissatisfaction with Congress.

Carl Hulse, chief Washington correspondent for The New York Times who has covered Capitol Hill since the Reagan administration, stated, "It's a great American pastime to hate Congress." He described the institution as broken today, saying, "I've spent my career covering the decline of Congress. And yeah, they need to get it together."

Hulse noted that Congress is grappling with aging and a grim political climate, which he considers worse than when he first arrived on Capitol Hill in 1985: "1985, Congress was different."

Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) commented on the current state of the House, saying, "Well, the Republicans don't control the House; the place is disruption."

Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) criticized Democrats, stating, "Unfortunately, Democrats have chosen to play politics and put that over people time and time again under this administration."

Sarah Binder, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, described the legislative branch as "struggling," while Philip Wallach, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, called Congress "marginalized," partly due to an empowered presidency.

Despite these challenges, it was emphasized that under the Constitution, Congress holds significant power. However, the lack of cooperation between parties hampers legislative progress.

Sources