Which Party in Congress Mentions the Issues

Americans Care Most About?

CapitolWords.org data finds that Democrats in the 114th Congress are mentioning the
issues Americans care about the most even though they hold the minority of seats.
Storm Hurwitz

Economy
% of mentions
by Democrats
49% 39% 40% 47% 50% 45% 50% 70% 46% 41% 51% 50% 49% 46% 52% 69% On August 6, 2015, the Republican Party held a debate for
53% the 2016 Presidential candidates. The economy,
% of mentions specifically the United States immense debt, was the
by Republicans
focus of the debate. Many of the candidates focused on
45%
% of mentions by others bashing the Obama administrations work to fix the
2% or not accounted for
Nations economy, specifically these elements: (1) median
household income remains equivalent to that of 1995,
proportion since 1st post adjustment for inflation; (2) there are too many
session of 114th Congress
51% 61% 60% 53% 50% 55% 50% 30% 54% 59% 49% 50% 51% 54% 48% 31% part-time jobs; and (3) spending is low.
15-Jan 15-Feb 15-Mar 15-Apr 15-May 15-Jun 15-Jul 15-Aug 15-Sep 15-Oct 15-Nov 15-Dec 16-Jan 16-Feb 16-Mar 16-Apr

Terrorism
34%
% mentions
by Democrats 52% 44% 37% 55% 77% 71% 97% 31% 82% 37% 41% 65% 57% 81% 52% 67% In July of 2015, the Republican Party accounted for 97%
of all mentions of the word terrorism. The Director of the
% of mentions
by Republicans
Federal Bureau of Investigation, republican James Comey,
65% released a statement that ISIS planned attacks to "to kill
1%
% of mentions by others people in the United States" on July 4, 2015. Further,
or not accounted for
Comey spoke of the dangers of social media, saying that
proportion since 1st
recruiters for ISIS have a "devil in their pocket all day long
session of 114th Congress that says 'Kill, kill, kill.'" His beliefs likely increased
48% 56% 23% 45% 23% 29% 3% 69% 18% 33% 59% 35% 43% 19% 48% 33% Republican concerns in congress.
15-Jan 15-Feb 15-Mar 15-Apr 15-May 15-Jun 15-Jul 15-Aug 15-Sep 15-Oct 15-Nov 15-Dec 16-Jan 16-Feb 16-Mar 16-Apr

Unemployment
% of mentions
by Democrats 39% 61% 51% 69% 33% 16% 69% 50% 20% 67% 20% 50% 37% 12% 45% N/A In June of 2015, the unemployment fell to its lowest point
48%
since the start of the Great Recession. The Bureau of
% of mentions
by Republicans
Labor Statistics reported that the unemployment rate de-
38% creased to 5.3% in June 2015. During the peak of the
% of mentions by others Great Recession, in October of 2009, the unemployment
14% or not accounted for
rate hit 10%. Democrats likely spoke highly of Obamas
proportion since 1st
fiscal policies during June, driving them to account for a
session of 114th Congress much larger (84%) proportion of the total mentions of
61% 39% 49% 31% 67% 84% 31% 50% 80% 33% 80% 50% 63% 88% 55% unemployment during that month.
15-Jan 15-Feb 15-Mar 15-Apr 15-May 15-Jun 15-Jul 15-Aug 15-Sep 15-Oct 15-Nov 15-Dec 16-Jan 16-Feb 16-Mar 16-Apr
Sources: CapitolWords.org, Gallup, CNN, Bureau of Labor Statistics