Only 28% Believe Obama’s Budget Would Help Soon

February 14, 2012 05:03


New poll: 92% of voters extremely or very interested in the election, and 72% saying they are following news from Washington extremely or very closely. At the same time, voters remain pessimistic about the country’s direction – 59% say things are off on the wrong track, 55% feel “mostly negative” about the economy, and 57% believe the federal government hurts economic growth.

From Bankrupting America.org

New polling shows voters continue to place great importance on the economy and spending, therefore it is no surprise that more than eight in ten (84%) voters find it extremely or very concerning that the U.S. Senate has not passed a budget in nearly three years.    This level of concern is high across the board, reaching 93% among Republicans, 85% among Independents, and 74% among Democrats.

Considering the U.S. Senate has not passed a budget in nearly three years and the President will release a budget today, it is also no surprise that voters have strong opinions on the issue of the federal budget. Specifically, there is a significant gap between what voters hope is in the President’s budget and what they expect will actually be in the budget. While 75% want to see President Obama’s budget cut spending, only 31% expect it to actually cut spending. Also, while 62% want to see his budget reduce taxes, only 24% expect the budget to reduce taxes.

Similarly, voters were presented with two views on growing the economy, and they most favored the option of lower spending and taxes.

 

While more than eight in ten voters (85%) say the economy is extremely or very important for our leaders in Washington to focus on, they are not expecting President Obama’s budget to have a significant positive impact on the economy.

Gretchen Hamel, Executive Director of Public Notice, stated the following:

“President Obama and Congress are misleading themselves if they think voters are confused about what they want. Americans know that absent a budget and a real, serious review of our nation’s finances, the same reckless overspending will continue. It’s time for the President and Congress to stop pushing paper and making speeches, and get serious, do their jobs, cut spending and get our fiscal house in order.”

Key Findings:

The poll shows the federal budget deficit and government overspending will be a top concern this year:

– Americans believe the economy and overspending are connected. Fully 73 percent believe the economy is extremely or very impacted by the national debt.

– Americans want to solve the nation’s fiscal and economic problems by cutting spending. 55% of voters say the best way to get the economy moving again and create jobs is to cut government spending and keep taxes low. Only 36% think the best way to improve the economy is to increase spending.

– However, Americans are pessimistic Washington will cut spending. While 75% want President Obama to cut spending in his fiscal year 2013 budget, only 31% think he will.

– Perhaps that’s because Congress has failed to even pass a budget in the last few years. 84 percent of voters find it extremely or very concerning that the U.S. Senate has not passed a budget in the last three years.

To view the complete poll, click here.

This survey was conducted February 6-8, 2012 and the results noted above are from 800 registered “likely” voters across the country. In 95 out of 100 cases, the confidence interval associated with a sample of this type is +/- 3.5%.

 

Public Notice is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit, 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to providing the facts and insights on the effects public policy has on Americans’ financial well being.



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