The Hill has this item on how the U.S. Congress is not quite as unpopular as it used to be — but not by much. Excerpt:

While Americans still have a dismal view of Congress, the legislative body’s approval rating continues to rise, now standing at 20 percent, according to a new Gallup poll.

That mark is up from 16 percent at the start of the year and up 9 percentage points from the end of 2013.

This is the first Gallup poll since Republicans took control of both chambers of Congress.

Approval ratings typically jump at the beginning of a new Congress, and this increase is significantly smaller than those after the last two party changes. …

Amazingly, The Hill says, congressional approval was at 84 percent in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Congress is currently on recess and returns to deliberate next week.

Flickr: Hey Paul