Congressional Republicans are likely to take a closer look at government-backed mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as they continue to consume billions of taxpayer dollars to cover bad loans. While many Americans have benefited from Fannie and Freddie loans, a majority don't hold high opinions of either one.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 21% of Adults view Fannie Mae at least somewhat favorably, while 64% share an unfavorable opinion of it. This includes just four percent (4%) with a Very Favorable opinion and 34% with a Very Unfavorable one. Fifteen percent (15%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Similarly, 17% hold at least a somewhat favorable view of Freddie Mac, with only two percent (2%) Very Favorable. But 67% view the lending agency unfavorably, including 35% with a Very Unfavorable regard for it. Sixteen percent (16%) are not sure.

Yet while many Americans view Fannie, officially the Federal National Mortgage Association, and Freddie, officially the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, unfavorably, they also seem to have limited knowledge of them and how they operate. The two entities own or guarantee roughly half the mortgages in the country.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on January 14-15, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.