Congress gets low marks in honesty, ethics

PRINCETON, N.J., Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Nearly two-thirds of Americans hold Congress in low regard in terms of honesty and ethical standards, results from a Gallup survey released Monday indicate.

Americans rated the honesty and ethical standards of nurses, pharmacists and doctors the highest of 21 professions reviewed, Gallup said, and gave the least positive ratings to congressional members, lobbyists, car sales personnel and telemarketers.

Sixty-four percent of the respondents gave members of Congress a low or very-low rating and 7 percent gave them a high rating, Gallup said.

The Princeton, N.J., polling agency said the low opinion is consistent with Americans' view of Congress in general, both in job approval and trust in the institution.

Eighty-four percent of Americans rated the honesty and ethics of nurses as very high or high. Pharmacists received high marks from 73 percent and doctors were rated high or very high by 70 percent.

Results are based on nationwide telephone interviews with 1,012 adults conducted Nov. 28-Dec. 1. The margin of error is 4 percentage points.