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     Federal Budget, Taxes, Economic Policy     See also:  Business news (banks, housing, Detroit...) | Economic Outlook

Newsweek Poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. Aug. 25-26, 2010. N=1,029 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.7.

"Do you think Barack Obama and his administration are focused as much as they should be on working to improve the economy and jobs situation, or not?"

8/25-26/10

"Which of the following do you think bears more responsibility for the country's economic problems today: the economic policies of President Obama, the economic policies of former President George W. Bush, OR both equally?"

8/25-26/10

"Which ONE of the following do you think should have the higher priority for policymakers in Washington RIGHT NOW: reducing the federal budget deficit, or federal spending to create jobs?" Options rotated

8/25-26/10

"Do you think Congress should allow the Bush tax cuts for persons in the top two percent income category to EXPIRE in 2011, or should Congress pass legislation to EXTEND the Bush tax cuts for the top two percent?"

8/25-26/10

CBS News Poll. Aug. 20-24, 2010. N=1,082 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

"Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy?"

8/20-24/10

7/9-12/10

6/16-20/10

5/20-24/10

4/28 - 5/2/10

4/5-12/10

3/29 - 4/1/10

3/18-21/10

2/5-10/10

1/14-17/10

1/6-10/10

12/4-8/09

11/13-16/09

10/5-8/09

9/19-23/09

8/27-31/09

7/24-28/09

7/9-12/09

6/12-16/09

5/6-12/09

4/22-26/09

4/1-5/09

3/20-22/09

3/12-16/09

2/18-22/09

2/2-4/09

"The tax cuts passed in 2001 are set to expire this year for households earning about $250,000 a year or more. This would increase federal income taxes for those people. Should those tax cuts be made permanent or should they be allowed to expire?"

ALL

Republicans

Democrats

Independents

Ipsos/Reuters Poll conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs. Aug. 19-22, 2010. N=1,063 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

"As you may know, the tax cuts passed during George W. Bush's administration lowered taxes by reducing maximum income tax rates for all Americans. These tax cuts are set to expire at the end of 2010, meaning tax rates would go back to what they were before the Bush tax laws. Congress is currently considering whether to let these tax cuts expire or extend them. Which of the following comes closest to your own view on what action Congress should take? Let the tax cuts expire for all Americans. Let tax cuts expire only for people who earn more than $200,000 a year. Extend the tax cuts for all Americans."

ALL

Democrats

Republicans

Independents

"And if you had to choose, which of the following two things do you think is more important? Lower taxes for all Americans. Reducing the budget deficit."

ALL

Democrats

Republicans

Independents

AP-GfK Poll conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media. Aug. 11-16, 2010. N=1,007 adults nationwide. MoE ± 4.5.

"How worried are you that increasing federal debt will harm the financial future of your children and grandchildren: very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried, or not at all worried?"

8/11-16/10

1/12-17/10

9/3-8/09

7/16-20/09

4/16-20/09

1/9-14/09

9/27-30/08

"The tax cuts that were passed in 2001 will expire this year if they are not continued. Which of the following best describes what you think Congress should do about the tax cuts? Allow the tax cuts to expire for everyone. Allow the tax cuts for people earning more than $250,000 to expire, but continue them for other people. Continue the tax cuts for everyone."

8/11-16/10

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. Aug. 6-10, 2010. N=1,009 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

"As you may know, the tax cuts passed into law when George W. Bush was president are set to expire this year. Unless a new bill is passed, federal income tax rates will rise to the level they were at when those cuts were enacted. Which of the following statements comes closest to your view? Those tax cuts should continue for all Americans regardless of how much money they make. Those tax cuts should continue for families that make less than 250 thousand dollars a year, but taxes should rise to the previous level for families who make more than that amount. Taxes should rise to the previous level for all Americans regardless of how much money they make."

8/6-10/10

"Do you favor or oppose a bill in which the federal government would provide 26 billion dollars to state governments to pay for Medicaid benefits and the salaries of public school teachers or other government workers?"

ALL

Democrats

Independents

Republicans

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Bill McInturff (R). Aug. 5-9, 2010. N=1,000 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.1.

"Congress will soon decide whether to keep in place the existing tax cuts enacted during President Bush's time in office, or allow them to expire. Which of the following options would be acceptable to you or not acceptable to you? . . ."

"Keep in place all the tax cuts for all Americans for one more year until the economy recovers."

8/5-9/10

"Keep in place the tax cuts only for families earning less than $250,000 per year." Half sample (Form A)

8/5-9/10

"Eliminate the tax cuts for families earning more than $250,000 per year."

8/5-9/10

"Keep in place all the tax cuts permanently."

8/5-9/10

"Eliminate all the tax cuts permanently."

8/5-9/10

FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. July 27-28, 2010. N=900 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.

"As you may know, a series of tax cuts that were passed at the beginning of former President George W. Bush's term are set to expire this year. If you were president, would you continue the tax cuts for everyone, continue the tax cuts for everyone except families earning more than $250,000 dollars a year, or allow the tax cuts to expire and let taxes go back up to their previous level?"

7/27-28/10

Pew Research/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll, sponsored by the Society for Human Resource Management. July 22-25, 2010. N=1,004 adults nationwide. MoE ± 4.

"What do you think would do more to improve economic conditions in the country over the next few years: following the economic policies of Barack Obama's administration, or following the economic policies of George W. Bush's administration." Options rotated

ALL

Republicans

Democrats

Independents

"Which comes closer to your view about the tax cuts passed when George W. Bush was president? All of the tax cuts should remain in place. Tax cuts for the wealthy should be repealed, while others stay in place. All of the tax cuts should be repealed."

ALL

Republicans

Democrats

Independents

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. July 16-21, 2010. N=1,018 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

"Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling [see below]?"

"The economy"

7/16-21/10

3/25-28/10

3/19-21/10

1/8-10/10

10/30 - 11/1/09

9/11-13/09

8/28-31/09

3/12-15/09

"The federal budget deficit"

7/16-21/10

3/19-21/10

1/8-10/10

10/30 - 11/1/09

9/11-13/09

8/28-31/09

3/12-15/09

"Which do you think should be more important for the Obama administration? Reducing the deficit, even if it might slow down economic recovery. Stimulating economic recovery, even if it might mean less deficit reduction." Options rotated. N=501 (Form A), MoE ± 4.5.

7/16-21/10

12/16-20/09

"Which do you think should be more important for the Obama administration? Reduce the deficit even if unemployment remains high. Create more jobs even if it means less deficit reduction." Options rotated. N=517 (Form B), MoE ± 4.5.

7/16-21/10

12/16-20/09

Quinnipiac University Poll. July 13-19, 2010. N=2,181 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 2.1.

"Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy?"

7/13-19/10

5/19-24/10

4/14-19/10

3/22-23/10

2/2-8/10

1/5-11/10

12/15-20/09

12/1-6/09

11/9-16/09

9/29 - 10/5/09

7/27 - 8/3/09

6/23-29/09

4/21-27/09

3/24-30/09

2/25 - 3/2/09

"Who do you trust to do a better job handling the economy: President Obama or the Republicans in Congress?"

7/13-19/10

5/19-24/10

12/15-20/09

7/27 - 8/3/09

6/23-29/09

4/21-27/09

3/24-30/09

2/25 - 3/2/09

"Do you think President Obama's policies have helped the economy, hurt the economy, or haven't made a difference?"

7/13-19/10

5/19-24/10

12/15-20/09

7/27 - 8/3/09

"Looking forward, do you think President Obama's policies will help the economy, will hurt the economy, or won't make a difference?"

7/13-19/10

5/19-24/10

12/15-20/09

7/27 - 8/3/09

"Do you think President Obama's policies have helped your personal financial situation, hurt your personal financial situation, or haven't made a difference?"

7/13-19/10

5/19-24/10

12/15-20/09

7/27 - 8/3/09

"Looking forward, do you think President Obama's policies will help your personal financial situation, will hurt your personal financial situation, or won't make a difference?"

7/13-19/10

5/19-24/10

12/15-20/09

7/27 - 8/3/09

"What do you think is more important: reducing the federal budget deficit or reducing unemployment?"

7/13-19/10

2/2-8/10

"Who do you blame more for the current condition of the U.S. economy: former President George W. Bush or President Barack Obama?"

7/13-19/10

1/5-11/10

"Some people say that President Obama is being fiscally irresponsible by spending too much government money. Others say President Obama is being fiscally responsible by only spending money where it is needed. Which comes closer to your view?"

7/13-19/10

1/5-11/10

Pew Research/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll, sponsored by the Society for Human Resource Management. July 15-18, 2010. N=1,003 adults nationwide. MoE ± 4.

"If you were setting priorities for the government these days, would you place a higher priority on reducing the budget deficit, or spending more to help the economy recover?" Options rotated

7/15-18/10

2/3-9/10

6/18-21/09

"If you were setting priorities for the government these days, would you place a higher priority on reducing the budget deficit, or cutting taxes?" Options rotated

7/15-18/10

"Thinking specifically about how the federal government could best stimulate the economy and create jobs, which would be more effective right now: cutting taxes to individuals and businesses, or spending more on such things as education, public works, and unemployment benefits?" Options rotated

ALL

Republicans

Democrats

Independents

"Thinking about the federal government's economic policies since the recession began in 2008. Do you think they have helped [see below] a great deal, a fair amount, not too much, or not at all?"

"Large banks and financial institutions"

7/15-18/10

"Large corporations"

7/15-18/10

"Wealthy people"

7/15-18/10

"Poor people"

7/15-18/10

"Middle class people"

7/15-18/10

"Small businesses"

7/15-18/10

"Thinking about the economic stimulus passed by Congress last year. Do you think the stimulus has [see below] or not?"

"Increased the federal budget deficit"

7/15-18/10

"Led to improvements in roads, bridges, and other infrastructure in your area"

7/15-18/10

"Helped state and local governments avoid layoffs and budget cuts"

7/15-18/10

"Helped keep unemployment from getting even worse"

7/15-18/10

Time Poll conducted by Abt SRBI. July 12-13, 2010. N=1,003 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

"Which administration do you think is more to blame for the economic problems the country faces today: the Bush administration or the Obama administration?" Options rotated

7/12-13/10

"Have the policies of the Obama administration helped the economic recovery, hurt it, or have they not had much impact?"

7/12-13/10

"In general, which political party do you trust more to handle the economic recovery: the Democrats or the Republicans?" Options rotated

7/12-13/10

"Last year Congress passed a stimulus program of additional federal spending to help the economy recover. Would you say that the stimulus program helped the economy a lot, helped it some, hurt the economy some, or hurt it a lot or didn't it have much impact?"

7/12-13/10

"The additional federal spending for the stimulus program increased the federal budget deficit. Is the economy better off today because of the stimulus package or would we have been better off if the government had not spent the additional money on the stimulus program?"

7/12-13/10

"Would you favor or oppose additional government spending for a second stimulus package?"

7/12-13/10

Bloomberg Poll conducted by Selzer & Co. July 9-12, 2010. N=1,004 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.1.

"The U.S. currently has a huge budget deficit and a high unemployment rate. Which should take priority: reducing the budget deficit or reducing the unemployment rate?"

7/9-12/10

"Long-term unemployment is near a record high. The government is considering again extending unemployment benefits so that people could continue to receive payments for as long as 99 weeks, instead of the normal 26-week cut-off. That would add $34 billion to the deficit. Do you favor or oppose extending unemployment benefits?"

7/9-12/10

"Which of the following best describes your attitude toward the federal budget deficit? It is dangerously out of control and threatens our economic future. It is a manageable burden that will require some sacrifice down the road. It will cause no lasting harm."

7/9-12/10

"Is it your sense that the amount you pay in federal income taxes is higher or lower than it was under the Bush administration, or is it about the same?"

7/9-12/10

"I'm going to mention some issues that have been in the news recently. For each, please tell me if you have become more supportive in the past few months, less supportive, or if your opinion on the issue has not changed. The stimulus bill passed in 2009 designed to create new jobs."

7/9-12/10

CBS News Poll. July 9-12, 2010. N=966 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

"So far, do you think the government's stimulus package has made the economy better, made the economy worse, or has it had no impact on the economy so far?"

7/9-12/10

4/5-12/10

12/4-8/09

9/19-23/09

7/24-28/09

7/9-12/09

"Is the condition of the national economy something a president can do a lot about, or is that beyond any president's control?"

7/9-12/10

7/08

"So far, have Barack Obama's economic programs helped you personally, hurt you personally, or have they not had much of an effect on you personally so far?"

7/9-12/10

"Do you think Barack Obama has been spending too much time, too little time, or the right amount of time trying to fix the nation's economy and create jobs?"

7/9-12/10

"Which comes closer to your own view? The federal government should spend money to create jobs, even if it means increasing the budget deficit. OR, The federal government should NOT spend money to create jobs and should instead focus on reducing the budget deficit."

7/9-12/10

4/5-12/10

2/5-10/10

"Which would be a more effective way for the government to get the economy moving again: cutting taxes to encourage spending and investment, or spending more money to create new jobs?"

7/9-12/10

"Do you think Congress should extend unemployment benefits for people who are currently out of work, even if it means increasing the budget deficit, or shouldn't they do that?"