KATV Channel 7 - The Spirit of Arkansas: Does Congress listen to what people say online? Survey says yes!

Forget the busy signals. When President Obama told Americans to get in touch with Congress on the debt debate, many reached for social media. But does Congress really listen to what constituents say on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube? A new survey says yes.

President Barack Obama asked Americans to do their part in the debt ceiling battle by making their voices heard.

President Obama said "If you want a balanced approach to reducing the deficit, let your Member of Congress know."

Some sent their message through calling their representatives, but others did it through social mediums.

With social media, Americans have found another conduit to speak to elected officials. The question, is congress actually listening?

A new survey of congressional staffers, points to yes, and with good reason, their bosses.

"Members are the best pollsters in the world because they're the only pollsters, who if they get the answer wrong, they lose their job, and now they're using social media to gather that public opinion and integrate it into their decision making process," says Bradford Fitch, Congressional Management Foundation President & CEO.

The Congressional Management Foundation asked if hill offices find social media effective in gauging opinions of constituents and reaching those they might not otherwise.

More than two-thirds said Facebook is an important tool in their outreach. Twitter came in at 42 percent, and you-tube, about a third.

"They can post something on their Facebook page or put up a YouTube video and literally within 24 hours, have public opinion," says Fitch.

The polling isn't scientific but it's something, especially during hot debates like the one on the debt ceiling, when lawmakers are spending a lot of time under the dome.