Members of Congress are boring and work long hours and aren’t at all like their constituents often think, according to a new study from the Congressional Management Foundation.
The study, released Tuesday, documents the lives of 25 typical members of the House while on the job, including how many hours they work and the tasks they perform, reports
The Hill newspaper. The study did not include senators, members of the leadership, or new members of Congress.
According to the study, the lawmakers put in 14-hour days and seem willing to sacrifice their personal and family lives for their constituents. They also average a 59-hour work week back in their districts when Congress is not in session, and spend a lot of time reading just to keep up with their legislative duties and what’s happening in the world.
The study, said foundation president and CEO Brad Fitch, shows a picture of Congress far different from the general perception. Contrary to the view that they are lazy and don’t accomplish much, he said lawmakers still see themselves as dedicated public servants who don’t spend enough time with their families or dealing with personal matters.
“It does raise the question that if you have a workforce that is spending incredibly long hours and feeling dedicated about their job and yet their work product is not viewed by their employers — i.e., their constituents — as satisfactory, what does that say about the institution?” commented Fitch.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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