2011 has not been a good year for Congress. Just last week, the House narrowly passed an extension on a payroll tax cut. Earlier this year, a government shutdown was avoided after a battle over the debt ceiling.
Most people do not have a positive view of Congress. A recent Gallup Poll shows Congress with just an 11% approval rating.
As 2011 comes to a close, WRVO spoke with central and northern New York's Congressional representatives.
In this extended interview, 23rd District Democrat Bill Owens looks back at his first year in office and also looks ahead to 2012. He gives his thoughts on the recent vote on extending a payroll tax cut, how the end to the war in Iraq could affect unemployment and the economy in northern New York, and his thoughts on Congress ending the year with one of the lowest approval ratings in decades.
