KEYC - Mankato News, Weather, Sports - - New Congress Sworn In on Capitol Hill

New Congress Sworn In on Capitol Hill

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WASHINGTON D.C. -

A new group of lawmakers starts work today in Washington. The winners from November's election are being sworn in - and promising to get more done than the last Congress - which did very little.

The 113th Congress opened today with dozens of new members. The new congress is one of the most diverse ever elected - including a record number of women. But new lawmakers are facing the same old fights.  In the coming months legislators will debate spending cuts, the debt limit and gun control.

The 113th Congress starts work after one of the least productive terms in history. The last group passed just 151 bills, the fewest in 65 years. That left Congress with an approval rating of 10 percent last year, lower than past approval ratings for the IRS, lawyers and even Paris Hilton. Jeff Flake is starting his first day in the Senate after serving six terms in the House. The new Senator from Arizona believes the fiscal cliff fight was a preview of things to come. New legislators are promising more compromise, but Republicans are keeping their control of the House and Democrats are hanging on to their majority in the Senate - returning the same divided government that delivered gridlock last year. The 113th Congress includes 13 new Senators and 82 new House members.