Congress' approval ratings remain dismal, according to a new CNN/ORC International poll.

Its June 11-13 survey found Congress' approval number at 16 percent, up 1 percentage point from November, when most of the current lawmakers were elected.

The poll surveyed 1,014 adult people by phone. Margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Congress' ratings have been low for some time. Some figures: January, 2012, 11 percent; December, 2011, 16 percent; August, 2011, 14 percent.

Americans are divided over the government's domestic surveillance, but think their rights and freedoms could be threatened by the spying, according to a new CNN/ORC International poll released Monday.

The survey of 1.014 adults was taken June 11-13, as news about two surveillance programs dominated the news.

Asked if "the federal government has become so large and powerful that it poses an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens," 62 percent said yes.

But the public saw some value in the programs, and were critical of self-confessed leaker Edward Snowden.

"As you may know, details of the government collection of phone records and internet data were revealed when a former government contractor named Edward Snowden leaked classified information about those government programs to two newspapers.  Do you approve or disapprove of Snowden's actions?" the poll asked.

Forty-four percent approved, while 52 percent disapproved.

Opinion was split on whether the programs were right. "Do you think the Obama administration was right or wrong in gathering and analyzing those phone records?" the survey asked. Fifty-one percent said it was right, while 48 percent said it was wrong.

To read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/06/17/cnn-poll-obama-approval-falls-amid-controversies/

"It's against the law for the NSA to record and monitor Americans' phone calls. It's against the law, and the law is very clear on this," House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Mich., told CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday.

Rogers explained that the data is in a "lock box."

He called it "a lock box of only phone numbers, no names, no addresses." For that data to get further, "it would mean that the NSA have to conspire with the FBI, would have to conspire with both parties in Congress on the intelligence committees and the oversight functions in the executive branch to do something beyond what the law very narrowly allows. I just find that implausible."

But what, asked moderator Candy Crowley, about allegations someone from NSA had been listening in on a phone call without a warrant in on case.

"I can't tell you how strong we need to make this clear," Rogers said. "The NSA is not listening to Americans' phone calls, and it is not monitoring their e-mails. If it did, it's illegal. It's breaking the law."

And not recording them either, Crowley asked?

"I could go get a warrant on a criminal case, yes, absolutely," Rogers explained, "but that's very, very different. And I think they think that there's this mass surveillance of what you're saying on your phone call and what you're typing in your e-mails. That is just not happening. And it's important, I think, for people to understand because there's all this misinformation about what these programs are."

Republicans really like Paul Ryan. But Democrats like New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

Those are key findings of a new Gallup poll released Friday. It tested the public's view of five potential 2016 Republican presidential candidates: Ryan, the 2012 party vice presidential nominee; Christie; Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

"The five Republican officeholders currently appear to meet two minimum factors for a successful presidential campaign: they are generally well-liked by the Republican rank-and-file, and are more liked than disliked by the larger general population," said an analysis by Gallup's Jeffrey Jones.

But, he said, Christie and Ryan offer "interesting contrasts."

His analysis: "Ryan's high favorability among Republicans but lower favorability among the general public would position him to do well in the Republican primaries, but perhaps make him a less formidable general election candidate.

"Christie, on the other hand, would appear to be a stronger general election than Republican primary candidate, given his lower favorability among Republicans but higher favorability among Democrats and Americans more generally."

House Speaker John Boehner made it clear Thursday he's still strongly supporting controversial domestic surveillance programs.

"I've made it very clear this program does not target innocent Americans in any way, shape or form.  These programs have helped keep America safe," he said at his weekly news conference.

"They've enhanced our ability to go after terrorists who want to bring harm to the American people."

Boehner called on the White House to explain the programs more fully.

''Frankly, I'm a little surprised that the White House hasn't stood up and made clear on an ongoing basis over this last week just how important these programs are," he said.

"For those of us who have been briefed on these programs, who are aware of these programs, we're aware how much safety they brought us.  And we're also aware of many examples where they've helped us eliminate terrorist threats."

Americans should hardly be surprised the government has access to their personal data, a new Allstate/National Journal Heartland Monitor Poll revealed Thursday.

The poll shows "most Americans exhibit a healthy amount of skepticism and resignation about data collection and surveillance, and show varying degrees of trust in institutions to responsibly use their personal information. Recent headlines focusing on government collection of telephone records within the United States may further stoke the underlying worries that the American public has about data privacy."

The quarterly survey probes American attitudes and views on data collection, asking people "their impression of the likelihood that their personal information is available to the government, businesses, individuals, and other groups without their consent – and to what extent people believe they can control how much personal information is shared."

The survey found 85 percent thought their communications history, such as phone calls, emails and Internet use, are "accessible to the government, businesses, and others."

About two-thirds thoguht they had ittle or no control over the type of information that is collected and used by various groups and organizations.

The survey was conducted a few days before reports of top secret government spying programs. It showed 48 percent have "some" or a "great deal" of trust in the government when it comes to the use of their personal data. Similarly, cell phone and Internet service providers are trusted by just 48 percent of the public.

Most trustworthy institutions are healthcare providers and employers.

In addition, the polls found 0 percent supporting expanded government monitoring of phone and email activities.

"Rather," the survery said, "the public is more likely to favor increased use of camera surveillance of public places, with 44 percent supporting the measure, followed by 16 percent of respondents in favor of 'increased censorship of websites and less freedom to access sources on the Internet.'"

Forty-two percent opposed all three alternatives.

To read more: http://www.theheartlandvoice.com/category/insights

A bipartisan group of senators Tuesday introduced legislation to end the "secret law" that keeps details about government surveillance programs secret.

Under the bill, the Attorney General would be required to declassify "significant Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court opinions."

Doing so, the senators said in a joint statement, would allow "Americans to know how broad of a legal authority the government is claiming to spy on Americans under the Patriot Act and Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act."

Sponsors include Sens. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Mike Lee, R-Utah,, Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Dean Heller, R-Nev., Mark Begich, D-Alaska, Al Franken, D-Minn., Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore. 

“Americans deserve to know how much information about their private communications the government believes it’s allowed to take under the law," Merkley said.

“There is plenty of room to have this debate without compromising our surveillance sources or methods or tipping our hand to our enemies.  We can’t have a serious debate about how much surveillance of Americans’ communications should be permitted without ending secret law.”

House Speaker John Boehner Tuesday declared Edward Snowden, who leaked top secret domestic spy data to the media, a "traitor."

Boehner, R-Ohio, spoke to ABC's "Good Morning America."

"He's a traitor," the speaker said. "The president outlined last week that these were important national security programs to help keep Americans safe, and give us tools to fight the terrorist threat  that we face."

Boehner supported the program. "The president also outlined that there are appropriate safeguards in place  to make sure that there's no snooping, if you will on Americans here at home."

What troubled the speaker was "the disclosure of this information puts Americans at risk.  It shows our adversaries what our capabilities are.  And it's a giant violation of the law."

Read the entire interview here.

Republican Jeff Chiesa was sworn in as New Jersey's newest U.S. senator a few minutes ago, replacing the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J.

Chiesa, an attorney with close ties to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, will serve only until the fall. State votes will choose a replacement in an Oct. 16 special election.

Chiesa, 47, has said he will not run.

In a statement, he said Monday “It is an honor to have the opportunity to continue to serve the people of New Jersey in this new role as their representative in the United State Senate. I want to thank Governor Christie for placing his trust and confidence in me by appointing me to this position. 

“I look forward to representing the people of New Jersey at this time of historic challenge and opportunity, and will work every day during my brief tenure to advance their interests with honor and distinction.”

Acting IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel faced a polite but determined grilling Monday from a House appropriations subcommittee, and told them past IRS behavior in the tax exempt controversy was "unacceptable and must be addressed."

Werfel pledged a progress report by the end of the month. Looking at some applications for tax exempt status, he said, "there were inexusable delays in processing many of these applications, and some organizations were required to furnish unnecessary information in support of their applications."

Members of the subcommittee from both parties agreed, and Werfel acknowledged "there was a series of management oversight failures and a lack of internal controls to ensure the appropriate treatment of applications."

Werfel, who has only been with the IRS for a few days, insisted the agency "stands ready to confront the problems that occurred."

Good,said Chairman Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla. "In an arrogant and absolute abuse of power, the IRS office in Cincinnati singled out groups and individuals based on their political philosophy for extra scrutiny," he said. "They were harassed, intimidated and bullied, and no one spoke up."