Sixteen percent of the public is happy with how the federal government combats poverty, a new low in a 15-year trend measured by Gallup.

The number comes from a poll in which Gallup asked people to rate their satisfaction with the government’s work in 20 areas.

Satisfaction with government’s efforts on poverty ranked lower than how the government deals with its finances and immigration policy. Mail delivery received the highest rating, with 90 percent of people saying they are satisfied.

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The high point in approval of the government’s handling of poverty came in September 2001, when just over a quarter of people said they were satisfied.

Gallup said satisfaction over government efforts to combat poverty has declined mainly because satisfaction among Republicans, or those who lean that way, has declined over the last 10 to 15 years.

In 2001 and 2005, for example, 40 percent of Republicans said they were satisfied with government efforts to combat poverty. That level has dropped to 14 percent.

Since that time, there’s been a slight increase in satisfaction among Democrats, Gallup said.

The poll surveyed 1,011 adults between April 29 and May 2 with a 4 percentage point margin of error.