62% Understand That Spending Cuts Really Means Slowing Pace of Spending
Congress and presidents have been playing the “spending cuts” game for years, but most voters know what they’re really talking about.
General Politics
Most Recent Releases
August 10, 2011
August 9, 2011
67% Favor Finding Spending Cuts in All Government Programs
Defense spending, along with Social Security and Medicare, accounts for over 50% of the federal budget and is sure to come under the knife as Congress and President Obama look for ways to cut the nation’s staggering deficit. Most voters think that’s a good idea.
August 8, 2011
Fewer Voters Than Ever Believe U.S. Elections are Fair
With faith already lacking in the government and the economy, U.S. voters now have less confidence than ever in the fairness of elections.
August 8, 2011
29% Say Tea Party Members Are Terrorists, 55% Disagree
Several prominent Democrats and their media friends have charged the Tea Party with being economic terrorists during the congressional budget debates, but most voters don’t see it that way.
August 7, 2011
New Low: 17% Say U.S. Government Has Consent of the Governed
Fewer voters than ever feel the federal government has the consent of the governed.
August 5, 2011
71% Support Five-Year Lobbying Ban For Ex-Members of Congress
Most voters don’t think members of Congress should be allowed to lobby for several years after they step down.
August 5, 2011
62% Think Congress Unlikely to Cut Spending As Promised by One Trillion Dollars Over Next 10 Years
President Obama and Congress agreed to cut a trillion dollars in federal spending over the next decade as part of the recently concluded debt ceiling deal, but most voters doubt that will actually happen.
August 4, 2011
29% Favor Automatic Spending Cuts If Congress Doesn’t Reduce Spending By $1.5 Trillion
Although voters are skeptical that federal spending will actually be cut following the debt ceiling debate, a majority opposes automatic spending cuts if Congress doesn’t reach its reduction goals. A so-called Super Committee has been tasked with finding cuts of $1.5 trillion over a decade and recommending those cuts to the full Congress. If no cuts are agreed upon, automatic cuts are supposed to go into effect.
August 4, 2011
62% Would Vote to Replace Entire Congress
Congress just can’t win. Most voters still lack confidence even their own local representative and want to replace every single one of them.
August 3, 2011
68% Say U.S. Society is Fair and Decent
Voters continue to believe U.S. society is fair and decent, while the number who believes immigrants should adopt American culture hovers around the all-time low.
August 3, 2011
Just 22% Approve of Debt Ceiling Deal, Most Doubt It Will Cut Spending
Most Americans disapprove of the debt ceiling agreement reached by the president and Congress earlier this week and most doubt it will actually reduce government spending.
August 3, 2011
72% Favor Inclusion of 9/11 Cross in World Trade Center Memorial
Americans think the Constitution calls for a separation of church and state, but they overwhelmingly believe that separation is not violated by plans to include the so-called 9/11 cross in a memorial on the site of the World Trade Center.
August 2, 2011
Voters Favor Pay Cuts for Congress, President Until Budget Is Balanced
An overwhelming majority of voters nationwide want members of Congress to take a pay cut until the federal budget is balanced, and a plurality also thinks the president should chop his salary in half until that time.
August 1, 2011
Voters Divided Between Candidate Who Promises Debt Reduction with Only Spending Cuts and One Who Calls for “Balanced Approach”
The debt ceiling debate has highlighted the political difficulty of coming to grips with the federal government’s massive debt. Voters now are almost evenly divided over whether they prefer a congressman who would reduce that debt with spending cuts only or opt for a mix of spending cuts and tax increases.
July 28, 2011
41% Rate U.S. Health Care System Good or Excellent, 28% Say Poor
Positive ratings for the U.S. health care system peaked last year in the midst of the health care reform debate, but they have fallen since.
July 28, 2011
Voters Expect Debt Ceiling To Be Raised, Doubt Long-Term Spending Will Be Cut
With less than five days left until the federal government could begin defaulting on its debts, voters continue to express unhappiness with both sides of the debt ceiling debate. While most voters continue to believe the debt ceiling will be raised before the government defaults, most don’t think the president and Congressional Republicans will agree on significant long-term spending cuts before the 2012 elections.
July 27, 2011
New High: 46% Think Most in Congress Are Corrupt
Voters are more convinced than ever that most congressmen are crooks.
July 25, 2011
63% Oppose Giving Women, Minorities Special Treatment When It Comes to Hiring
Just over one-in-five Likely U.S. Voters (22%) now support government programs that give special treatment when hiring to women and minorities.
July 25, 2011
56% Favor A Congressional Candidate Who Endorses Balanced Approach to Debt Debate
Both major political parties are looking to next year’s elections to resolve the nation’s budget stalemate, and for now most voters would opt for a congressional candidate who balances spending cuts with tax hikes over one who’s totally opposed to any tax increases.
July 22, 2011
Most Voters Are Unhappy With Both Sides in the Debt Ceiling Debate
Most voters don’t care much for the way either political party is performing in the federal debt ceiling debate.
