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Majority say Congress has bad ethics

PRINCETON, N.J., Dec. 9 (UPI) -- A majority of U.S. residents say members of Congress have poor ethics, ranking them below car salesmen, the Gallup Poll said.

While 55 percent of those surveyed said U.S. House members have low or very low ethical standards, 49 percent said the same thing of U.S. senators. While Congress has always been on the low end in the annual Honest and Ethics in the Professions poll, this is the first time it has dropped below 50 percent, Gallup said Wednesday.

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Medical professionals tended to rank high, with 83 percent saying nurses and good or very good ethics. Police, engineers, members of the clergy and college professors also get good marks.

Gallup analysts said the drop in regard for Congress has occurred across party lines. They suggested a combination of scandals and the poor economy have contributed.

Other professions where at least 40 percent of those polled say they have poor ethics include HMO managers, insurance salespeople and lawyers.

Gallup interviewed 1,017 adults across the country by telephone between Nov. 20 and Nov. 22.

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