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Poll: Republican Push for Deep Budget Cuts Could Alienate Independents, Swing Voters
The poll found that 34 percent of Republicans, 33 percent of tea party movement supporters and 35 percent of voters who supported John McCain for president in 2008 say the top priority for them is scaling back spending and reducing the federal deficit.
However, key voting groups like independents, suburban women, seniors, and those in the 18-to-34 age group put much more emphasis on job creation and economic growth.
Forty percent of independents, 41 percent of suburban women, 35 percent of seniors and 39 percent of 18-to-34 Americans come down on the side of job creation and economic growth as the priority.That compares to the 23 percent of independents, 24 percent of suburban women, 19 percent of seniors and 19 percent of those between 18 and 24 who say cutting spending and the deficit is most important.
Fifty-two percent in the poll said they were concerned that the Republicans in Congress will go too far in cutting programs to reduce the deficitand 51 percent say the same of tea party movement supporters on the Hill. Sixty-three percent are concerned that the Democrats will not push hard enough for spending cuts and 62 percent say the same about Obama.
The poll also tested public opinion on 26 different ways to reduce the deficit.
Most popular (supported by 81 percent) was a surtax on people making more than $1 million a year, followed by eliminating congressional earmarks (78 percent), cancelling funding for weapons systems the Pentagon says aren't needed (76 percent) and eliminating tax credits for the oil and gas industries (74 percent).
Least popular were cutting Medicaid funding (only 32 percent found that acceptable), cutting funding for Medicare (23 percent), cutting funding for kindergarten-to-high-school education (22 percent) and cutting Social Security (22 percent).
The remainder of those surveyed on each question answered "not sure."
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Mybe all our state and federal elected officals should take a 60% pay cut and work more,and stop spending
tax payer money on there own trips and use the internet to get information and get thr information like the rest of us
Maybe if our politicions had a cut in pay and had to worry about social security and insurance like most of us folks they would work together and get things done instead of trying to load there pockets
March 06 2011 at 4:58 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Replywhy isn't there more outrage over the subsedies for oil co. 65 billion, farm cartells, power co.
March 06 2011 at 1:26 PM Report abuse Permalink +2 rate up rate down ReplyGET RID OF THE DEPT. OF EDUCATION, AND GIVE IT TO THE STATES TO ADMINISTRATE. THEIR ARE ALOT OF PROGRANS THAT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE STATES TO RUN. AT PRESENT THE FEDERAL GOVERMENT
IS TO BIG AND THEY HAVE 4 OR 5 DIFFERENT AGENCY DOING THE SAME THING.
SMALL ways to save , no more bail out big companys, STOP the wars we have lost toooooooooo many of our young, NO more aid to other countries PERIOD, no more hand outs to illegal aliens( they get more than some of our own), no more free rides on jet,cars for any govt. from prez, & family all govt. people, pay their own way,NO MORE RAISES FOR CONGRESS THEY GOT THEIRS, NO CHOO CHOO mr prez wasteful, SRS.DID NOT get cost of living in 2 yrs and please tell me things have not gone up yet SRS.exist making choices food or meds if SRS. can exist on next to nothing govt. should be able to bal. budget!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PENNIES MAKE DOLLARS
March 06 2011 at 7:43 AM Report abuse Permalink +4 rate up rate down ReplyTEA Party era is over. We have now Labor Union Party. Republicans chance for elected offices is now nil- pre-empted anti-union of Governor Walker of Wisconsin. People are angry with and fear republicans now. Even some TEA Party members have now switched gears and are to supporting democrats. Republicans have abused American people this year. The whole country is now waiting 2012 for a revenge against republicans. Believe it or not - no republican will be elected as state or federal senator, congress or president. Republicans are now in a "black hole" they cannot get out.They are lying to us that there is no money. But they have crowded their offices with highly paid aides. Welcome to re-electing President Obama.
March 06 2011 at 4:12 AM Report abuse Permalink +5 rate up rate down ReplyWHY DID THE DEFICIT GO UP?
The reason the current deficit is large is due to the condition the country was in when the Democrats came to office. During times of a RECESSION demand for social programs such as:
1. UNEMPLOYMENT PAYMENTS to individuals who have lost their jobs due to no fault of their
own
2. MEDICAID
expand because of high unemployment.
While:
TAX RECEIPTS FALL due to fewer taxes being paid.
The deficit is at an all time high, So is the debt, If you want to "stimulate" the economy, you have to tighten the spending, and place whatever money you have in areas that will create jobs and investment. NOT IN THE POCKET OF SOCIAL NEEDS. No one has ever been hired by a poor worker.
March 05 2011 at 9:31 PM Report abuse Permalink -4 rate up rate down ReplyDeep cuts? deep Cuts? Lets see: the Obama budget is 3.7 Trillion $. So far I am hearing a lot of fighting from the left on figures that go as high as 80 billion $. For those of you that are mathematically challenged, we are talking about 1% of the budget. GET IT?
March 05 2011 at 9:27 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyhate to tell you this but it is republicans who wish to cut the budget by only 61 billon and too do that the way republicans proposs will as all economist thats right all economist say will cost us a whole lot of jobs an has a good chance of putting us back into a depression If you dont raise revenue most likely by raising taxes as cutting taxes [ we cut taxes 4 times now] hasnt produced the needed revenue and i sxuggest cuts in spending that effect the least americans [military , corporate wellfare ,wars conress pay , insurance , and congress pensions] would be a good place to start
March 06 2011 at 6:07 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down ReplyRepublicans love to give huge tax cuts to corporate elites and other very wealthy individuals. Then they wring their hands and whine about the deficit saying we must cut services to seniors and working folks.
March 05 2011 at 5:40 PM Report abuse Permalink +7 rate up rate down Reply
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