Another Way We Overpay for Health Care By Froma Harrop
Little victories in curbing health care costs can add up. In truth, they seem little only next to the titanic $2.6 trillion Americans spend a year on health care. So let us salute them.
Public Content
Most Recent Releases
June 18, 2013
June 18, 2013
Distrust Growing: 70% Believe IRS Decision to Target Conservatives Was Made in DC
While the controversy over the National Security Agency surveillance program has dominated the news recently, concern about the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of Tea Party groups and other conservative organizations remains high and is inching up. Despite the large number of controversies engulfing official Washington, the number of people following the IRS scandal has actually increased in recent weeks.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 82% of voters nationwide are now following the IRS targeting story, including 44% who are following the story “Very Closely.” The overall number of voters who are following is up from 74% a month ago. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Win an iPad: The Rasmussen Challenge starts today!
(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 national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 16-17, 2013 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.
June 18, 2013
In New Jersey, 44% Would Vote for Christie for President
It’s the time in the political cycle when just about any Republican could be considered a presidential candidate. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s name comes up often in those discussions, but New Jersey voters aren’t convinced he should make the run.
Thirty-seven percent (37%) of Garden State voters would like to see a Christie campaign in 2016. However, a Rasmussen Reports statewide poll shows that 41% disagree and do not want him to run. Twenty-two percent (22%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(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 state survey of 1,000 Likely Voters in New Jersey was conducted June 12-13, 2013 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.
June 17, 2013
Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 39%, Republicans 39%
Democrats and Republicans are now tied on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending June 16, 2013.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 39% would choose the Republican instead.
This is the first time since June 2009 that both parties are below 40%. “This could be a sign that voters are just fed up with both parties,” noted Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports.
(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 national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from June 10-16, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage point with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
June 17, 2013
71% Would Recommend Their Company as a Good Place to Work
Most working Americans like their jobs, so it’s no surprise that they’d recommend their company as a good place to work.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 71% of Employed Americans would recommend their company, while just 17% would not. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Win an iPad: The Rasmussen Challenge starts tomorrow!
(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 613 Employed Adults was conducted on June 9-10, 2013 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.
June 17, 2013
Booker Clear Favorite to Replace Lautenberg
With two months to go until the Democratic primary and four months until Election Day, Newark Mayor Cory Booker is in a strong position to become New Jersey’s next United States Senator.
Booker, a graduate of Stanford University, Yale Law School and a Rhodes Scholar, currently attracts 54% support in the Democratic primary competition. A Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of the race finds three other candidates far behind. Congressman Rush Holt picks up 11% of the vote, Congressman Frank Pallone draws eight percent (8%), and Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly Sheila Oliver earns five percent (5%) of the vote. Three percent (3%) would prefer some other candidate and 18% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
In a general election match-up against Republican hopeful Steve Lonegan, Booker enjoys a 17-point advantage, 50% to 33%. Lonegan, former mayor of Bogota and former State Director of the New Jersey chapter of Americans for Prosperity. Perhaps recognizing the political realities of a statewide run in a solidly “blue” state, many other Republicans have declined to enter the race.
How are you doing in the Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.
(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 state survey of 416 Likely Democratic Primary Voters in New Jersey was conducted June 12-13, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. The general election survey of 1,000 Likely Voters in New Jersey was conducted June 12-13, 2013 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.
June 17, 2013
Most Want Donor Disclosure from Tax-Exempt Groups
Most voters believe tax-exempt groups should publicly disclose all of their donors even though most recognize some will be harassed by political opponents.
Fifty-seven percent (57%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe that groups like the Tea Party and Planned Parenthood should disclose all their donors. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 30% disagree and 13% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Win an iPad: A new Rasmussen Challenge starts tomorrow!
The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 14-15, 2013 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.
June 17, 2013
A Libertarian Turn on Marijuana Legalization, Same-Sex Marriage and Gun Rights By Michael Barone
Are Americans becoming more libertarian on cultural issues? I see evidence that they are, in poll findings and election results on three unrelated issues -- marijuana legalization, same-sex marriage and gun rights.
Start with pot. Last November voters in the states of Colorado and Washington voted to legalize marijuana, by a 55 to 45 percent margin in Colorado (more than Barack Obama's margin in the state) and by 56 to 44 percent in Washington.
June 17, 2013
57% Expect Health Care System to Get Worse in Coming Years
While opinions remain mixed about the current U.S. health care system, voters continue to grow increasingly pessimistic about the short-term prospects for health care.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 36% of Likely Voters rate the U.S. health care system as good or excellent. Twenty-seven percent (27%) rate it as poor. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Win an iPad: A new Rasmussen Challenge starts tomorrow!
(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 Likely Voters was conducted on June 14-15, 2013 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.
June 16, 2013
On Civil Liberties, Comparing Obama With Bush Is Easy -- and Mostly Wrong By Joe Conason
Nearly a dozen years after the passage of the Patriot Act, rushed through Congress in an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, informed debate over the balance between liberty and security is long overdue. That includes a public examination of how widely and deeply the National Security Agency (and other elements of the "intelligence community") may monitor Americans' telecommunications without violating the Bill of Rights.
June 16, 2013
41% Believe Supreme Court Too Hostile Towards Religion, 15% Too Friendly
Throughout history, the relationship between church and state has been a major issue for societies. In the United States, the First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, but precisely what that means has been subject to ongoing debate.
June 15, 2013
What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - For the Week Ending June 15, 2013
The news that the National Security Agency is monitoring everybody’s phone records and reading emails dominated the news last week. Most voters (57%) fear other government agencies will use the NSA data to harass political opponents. Just 26% support the government monitoring effort.
June 14, 2013
44% Are Confident They Will Receive All Promised Social Security Benefits
Most voters are still not confident that they will receive all promised Social Security benefits during their lifetime. There is overwhelming support for the view that voter approval should be required before any changes in the program are made.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters are at least somewhat confident that the Social Security system will pay them all their promised retirement benefits during their lifetime. Fifty-three percent (53%) are not confident.
There is a huge generation gap on this question. Seniors are overwhelmingly confident that they will receive their benefits. Just 22% of voters under 40 share that view. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted June 12-13, 2013 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.
June 14, 2013
NJ Governor: Christie Has Big Lead, Seen as Most Effective Candidate to Work With Obama
New Jersey’s Republican Governor Chris Christie holds a huge lead in his bid for reelection partly because he is seen as the most effective candidate to work with Democratic President Barack Obama. The first Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of the race finds Governor Christie attracting 58% of the vote, while State Senator Barbara Buono earns the vote from 28%. Four percent (4%) prefer some other candidate and 10% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The state survey of 1,000 Likely Voters in New Jersey was conducted June 12-13, 2013 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.
June 14, 2013
57% Fear Government Will Use NSA Data to Harass Political Opponents
There is little public support for the sweeping and unaccountable nature of the National Security Agency surveillance program along with concerns about how the data will be used.
Fifty-seven percent (57%) of voters nationwide believe it is likely the NSA data will be used by other government agencies to harass political opponents. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 30% consider it unlikely and 14% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(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 Likely Voters was conducted on June 12-13, 2013 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.
June 14, 2013
High Heels and Workers' Rights By Froma Harrop
One of the strangest artifacts of American culture is the spiked heel as a symbol of female power. Many waitresses at America's casinos feel otherwise.
June 14, 2013
Distrust of Government Is What It's All About by Scott Rasmussen
Another week, another controversy in official Washington. While each of these stories has its own cast of characters and internal dynamics, it is now possible to identify a unifying theme.
June 13, 2013
32% Are Willing to Pay More In Taxes to Keep Medicare As Is
Voters tend to believe it's not possible to keep Medicare going as is without a tax hike, but just one-in-three are willing to pay more in taxes to keep the government insurance program that way.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 34% of Likely Voters think it's possible to continue Medicare as it is today without raising taxes, up from 29% in June 2011. But a plurality (42%) still doesn't think that's possible, while 24% more are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
How did you do in the latest Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard to find out.
(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 Likely Voters was conducted on June 10-11, 2013 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.
June 13, 2013
64% Think Business Owners Should Be Able to Set Dress Codes for Customers
In towns all over the country, business owners, town officials and even judges are setting new dress code rules. A Tennessee judge has set conservative guidelines for female lawyers in the courtroom; banks in a Florida town have banned hats, hoods and sunglasses in an attempt to thwart robberies, and a New Jersey shore town has banned overly saggy pants on its boardwalk.
Most American Adults (64%) agree that business owners should be allowed to establish dress codes for people who enter their facility, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just 23% disagree. Thirteen percent (13%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.
(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 American Adults was conducted on June 11-12, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
June 13, 2013
24% Trust Federal Government to Do Right Thing Most or All The Time
Talk about a trust deficit.Just one-in-four Likely U.S. Voters (24%) now has confidence that when the federal government acts it’s doing the right thing most or nearly all the time, but that includes just four percent (4%) who say it almost always does the right thing.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 75% of voters disagree, with 47% who trust the federal government to do the right thing only some of the time and 28% who think it rarely or never does the right thing. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 10-11, 2013 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.
