53% Say More Important to Protect Existing Medicare Programs Rather Than Add New Benefits; 34% Disagree

Posted on October 30, 2021 | by Staff Writer

Fifty-three percent (53%) of voters believe it is more important to provide funding that would protect the existing Medicare program rather than expanding Medicare by adding new benefits. A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that 34% disagree and think it is more important to add dental, vision, and hearing benefits.

Senior citizens, by a 64% to 22% margin, believe it is more important to shore up Medicare rather than expand it. A majority of Republicans, (57%), Democrats (51%), and Independents (52%) share that view.

Most traditional Democrats agree that the priority should be on protecting Medicare. Those who support policies like those of Senator Bernie Sanders are evenly divided.

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Note: Neither Scott Rasmussen, ScottRasmussen.com, nor RMG Research, Inc. have any affiliation with Rasmussen Reports. While Scott Rasmussen founded that firm, he left more than seven years ago and has had no involvement since that time.

Question:

The Medicare trust fund is projected to run out of money within approximately five years. Still, a proposal has been made to expand Medicare by adding dental, vision, and hearing benefits. Is it more important to provide funding that would protect the existing Medicare program or to expand Medicare by adding new benefits?

53% Provide funding to protect the existing program

30% Expand by adding new benefits

17% Not sure

Methodology

The survey of 1,200 Registered Voters was conducted online by Scott Rasmussen on October 25-27, 2021. Field work for the survey was conducted by RMG Research, Inc. Certain quotas were applied, and the sample was lightly weighted by geography, gender, age, race, education, internet usage, and political party to reasonably reflect the nation’s population of Registered Voters. Other variables were reviewed to ensure that the final sample is representative of that population.

54% Believe Warnings About Gov’t Shutdowns Are Scare Tactics Rather Than Legitimate Concern

Posted on October 25, 2021 | by Staff Writer

Warnings about government shutdowns have become a regular part of the budget process in official Washington. Fifty-four percent (54%) believe those warnings are generally scare tactics rather than legitimate concerns. A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that 31% take the opposite view and believe the warnings stem from legitimate concerns.

Sixty-four percent (64%) of Republicans see warnings about shutdowns as a scare tactic. So do 55% of Independent voters. Democrats are evenly divided.

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Question 1:

Congressional budget battles often lead to warnings that the government will shut down if an agreement is not reached quickly. How worried are you about the possibility of a federal government shutdown?

20% Very worried

33% Somewhat worried

24% Not very worried

17% Not at all worried

6% Not sure

Question 2:

Generally speaking, are warnings about shutdowns based upon legitimate concerns or are they simply scare tactics?

31% Legitimate concerns

54% Scare tactic

15% Not sure

Methodology

The survey of 1,200 Registered Voters was conducted online by Scott Rasmussen on October 14-16, 2021. Field work for the survey was conducted by RMG Research, Inc. Certain quotas were applied, and the sample was lightly weighted by geography, gender, age, race, education, internet usage, and political party to reasonably reflect the nation’s population of Registered Voters. Other variables were reviewed to ensure that the final sample is representative of that population.

62% Favor Banning Use of Federal Funds for Research Conducted By Chinese Government or Chinese Communist Party

Posted on October 22, 2021 | by Staff Writer

Sixty-two percent (62%) of voters favor banning the use of federal funds to support research conducted by the Chinese government or the Chinese Communist Party. A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that 24% oppose that policy and 15% are not sure.

Those totals include 40% who Strongly Favor the proposal and 11% who are Strongly Opposed.

The ban is favored by 68% of Republicans, 61% of Independents, and 56% of Democrats.

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Question:

Another proposal would ban the use of federal funds to support research conducted by the Chinese government or the Chinese Communist Party. Do you favor or oppose this proposal?

40% Strongly favor

22% Somewhat favor

13% Somewhat oppose

11% Strongly oppose

15% Not sure

Methodology

77% Expect Reconciliation Bill Will Include “Inappropriate” Provisions Inserted by Lobbyists

Posted on September 25, 2021 | by Scott Rasmussen

Seventy-seven percent (77%) of voters expect that the reconciliation bill will include inappropriate provisions inserted by lobbyists. A Scott Rasmussen national survey also found that 80% think it’s likely that some Members of Congress would insert special favors for their donors that couldn’t pass if others knew about them.

Those fears help explain why 81% of voters believe Congress needs time to read the bill before voting. A solid majority of voters think Congress should have at least a week to review the legislation before voting.

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* If Congress is not given time to review the final bill, how likely is it that the reconciliation bill will include inappropriate provisions inserted by lobbyists?

52% Very likely

25% Somewhat likely

7% Not very likely

3% Not at all likely

12% Not sure

* Okay… if Congress is not given time to review the final bill, how likely is it that some Members of Congress would insert special favors for their donors that couldn’t pass if others knew about them?

53% Very likely

27% Somewhat likely

7% Not very likely

3% Not at all likely

10% Not sure

Methodology

The survey of 1,200 Registered Voters was conducted by Scott Rasmussen using a mixed mode approach from September 16-18, 2021. Field work for the survey was conducted by RMG Research, Inc. Most respondents were contacted online or via text while 263 were contacted using automated phone polling techniques. Online respondents were selected from a list of Registered Voters and through a process of Random Digital Engagement. Certain quotas were applied, and the sample was lightly weighted by geography, gender, age, race, education, internet usage, and political party to reasonably reflect the nation’s population of Registered Voters. Other variables were reviewed to ensure that the final sample is representative of that population.

The margin of sampling error for the full sample is +/- 2.8 percentage points.

78% Favor Work Requirements For Those Receiving Government Benefits

Posted on September 24, 2021 | by Scott Rasmussen

If someone is physically able to work, 78% of voters believe they should be required to seek a job in order to receive financial support from the government. A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that 13% disagree and 9% are not sure.

A solid majority of every measured demographic group supports the work requirement. That includes 86% of Republicans, 76% of Independents, and 73% of Democrats.

Overall, 54% Strongly Favor work requirements and 4% are Strongly Opposed.

Earlier this year, the Biden Administration removed work requirements for the Child Care Tax Credit. Sixty-six percent (66%) of voters favor restoring the work requirement for all who are physically able to work. Twenty-four percent (24%) are opposed.

Restoring the work requirement is favored by a majority of every measured demographic group. That includes 75% of Republicans, 65% of Democrats, and 57% of Independents.

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* If someone is physically able to work, do you favor or oppose requiring that they seek a job in order to receive financial support from the government?

54% Strongly favor

24% Somewhat favor

9% Somewhat oppose

4% Strongly oppose

9% Not sure

* Until this year, parents had to have income from a job to qualify for the Child Tax Credit. The Biden administration did away with the work requirement. Do you favor or oppose restoring the work requirement for all who are physically able to work?

44% Strongly favor

22% Somewhat favor

14% Somewhat oppose

10% Strongly oppose

10% Not sure

Methodology

The margin of sampling error for the full sample is +/- 2.8 percentage points.

60% Think US Gov’t Could Go Bankrupt Within 10-15 Years

Posted on September 22, 2021 | by Scott Rasmussen

Sixty percent (60%) of Registered Voters believe it is at least somewhat likely that the U.S. government will go bankrupt in the next 10-15 years. A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that 30% believe bankruptcy is unlikely and 11% are not sure.

The totals include 33% who consider the government going bankrupt to be Very Likely. At the other extreme, 12% say it is Not at All Likely.

Seventy-eight percent (78%) of Republicans consider the government going bankrupt to be at least somewhat likely. That view is shared by 57% of Independent voters and 53% or Democrats.

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* How likely is it that the United States government will go bankrupt within the next 10-15 years?

33% Very likely

27% Somewhat likely

18% Not very likely

12% Not at all likely

11% Not sure

Methodology

The margin of sampling error for the full sample is +/- 2.8 percentage points.

81% Think Congress Needs Time to Read the Reconciliation Bill Before Voting; Solid Majority Believes at Least a Week Should Be Provided

Posted on September 21, 2021 | by Scott Rasmussen

Eighty-one percent (81%) of voters believe Members of Congress should be given time to read the reconciliation bill before voting on it. A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that just 8% disagree and 11% are not sure.

Among those who believe members should have time to read the bill, 76% think at least a week should be allowed. Fourteen percent (14%) believe 72-hours should be sufficient while 7% think 24-hours is long enough.

The legislation is currently being drafted. The final document is likely to be thousands of pages long.

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* Congress is considering a “reconciliation plan” that would increase federal spending by $3.5 trillion. The bill has not been finalized, but it could be thousands of pages. When it is complete, should Members of Congress be given time to review the bill before voting on it?

81% Yes

8% No

11% Not sure

* [If yes to prior question] How much time should Members of Congress be given to review the final reconciliation bill before voting?

7% 24 hours

14% 3 days

29% A week

20% Two weeks

27% More than two weeks

4% Not sure

Methodology

The margin of sampling error for the full sample is +/- 2.8 percentage points.

Given a Choice, 40% Want Both Infrastructure and Reconciliation Bills to Pass; 38% Want Both to Be Rejected

Posted on September 19, 2021 | by Scott Rasmussen

Voters are evenly divided when given a choice between passing both the bi-partisan infrastructure legislation and the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package. A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that 40% of Registered Voters nationwide would prefer to pass both bills while 38% would like to see both rejected.

Among those most motivated to vote in the midterm elections, 42% would like both bills to pass and 43% would prefer that both fail.

Sixty-nine percent (69%) of Democrats would like both bills to pass while 62% of Republicans want both to be rejected. Among Independent voters, 31% want both to pass and 38% don’t want either to pass.

Individually, a plurality of voters support both pieces of legislation. By a 46% to 27% margin, voters would like to see the House pass the Senate-approved infrastructure plan. By a narrower 47% to 40% margin, voters tend to favor the reconciliation bill as well.

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Methodology

The survey of 1,200 Registered Voters was conducted by Scott Rasmussen using a mixed mode approach from September 10-11, 2021. Field work for the survey was conducted by RMG Research, Inc. Most respondents were contacted online or via text while 239 were contacted using automated phone polling techniques. Online respondents were selected from a list of Registered Voters and through a process of Random Digital Engagement. Certain quotas were applied, and the sample was lightly weighted by geography, gender, age, race, education, internet usage, and political party to reasonably reflect the nation’s population of Registered Voters. Other variables were reviewed to ensure that the final sample is representative of that population.

The margin of sampling error for the full sample is +/- 2.8 percentage points.

59% Believe Increased Government Spending Leads to Inflation

Posted on August 10, 2021 | by Scott Rasmussen

Fifty-nine percent (59%) of voters nationwide believe increased government spending leads to inflation. A Scott Rasmussen survey found that only 14% disagree and 27% are not sure.

Seventy-eight percent (78%) of Republicans see a connection between spending and inflation. Democrats, by a 45% to 21% margin, tend to agree. Among Independent voters, 45% believe more government spending leads to inflation while 11% do not.

These numbers help explain why just 22% of voters want Congress and the President to increase federal spending next year. Thirty-nine percent (39%) want spending to be cut and 21% would like it to remain about the same. That finding reflects a marked change from a year ago when just 14% of voters wanted the government to stop spending more money.

Among voters with a postgraduate degree, 42% want the government to increase spending while 36% would prefer spending cuts. Among all other voters, just 18% want more government spending and 40% are opposed.

The survey was conducted while the U.S. Senate was debating an infrastructure bill that will increase both federal spending and deficits. Additionally, the Senate is expected to soon take up a much larger spending bill through the budget reconciliation process.

Thirty-two percent (32%) of voters believe more government spending helps the economy while 38% believe it hurts. Over the past several decades, American voters have generally been even more negative concerning the impact of government spending.

It is possible that the pandemic has brought about a fundamental change in perceptions. However, it is also possible that these numbers indicate the beginning of a return to more normal skepticism about the role of government.

Other data shows that 53% of voters believe tax hikes are bad for the economy.

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Methodology

The survey of 1,200 Registered Voters was conducted online by Scott Rasmussen from August 4-9, 2021. Field work for the survey was conducted by RMG Research, Inc. Respondents were selected from a list of Registered Voters and through a process of Random Digital Engagement. Certain quotas were applied, and the sample was lightly weighted by geography, gender, age, race, education, internet usage, and political party to reasonably reflect the nation’s population of Registered Voters. Other variables were reviewed to ensure that the final sample is representative of that population.

49% Prefer Smaller Bill Focused on Infrastructure; 29% Prefer Biden Plan

Posted on May 12, 2021 | by Scott Rasmussen

By a 49% to 29% margin, voters prefer a more focused $600 Billion infrastructure plan rather than the president’s $1.9 trillion approach.

A Dallas Express survey conducted by Scott Rasmussen found that Republicans support the more narrowly focused plan by a 67% to 12% margin. Among Independent voters, 44% support the $600 billion plan while 29% prefer the larger proposal.

Democrats are more divided. Just under half (47%) prefer the $1.9 trillion plan proposed by the president. However, 38% of those in the president’s party prefer the smaller and more narrowly focused plan.

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Methodology

The national online survey of 1,000 Registered Voters was conducted by Scott Rasmussen from April 28-May 1, 2021. Field work for the survey was conducted by RMG Research, Inc. Respondents were selected from lists of Registered Voters and through a process of Random Digital Engagement. Certain quotas were applied, and the sample was lightly weighted by geography, gender, age, race, education, internet use, and political party to reasonably reflect the nation’s population of Registered Voters. Other variables were reviewed to ensure that the final sample is representative of that population.

Just 14% of Voters Want Congress to Stop Spending Now

Posted on May 12, 2020 | by Scott Rasmussen

Just 14% of voters believe Congress should stop spending money on new programs at this time. A Scott Rasmussen national survey found that 73% believe the federal government should continue to provide additional financial support for businesses and individuals directly impacted by the shutdown.

Support for such spending comes from 82% of Democrats, 71% of Independents, and 63% of Republicans.

The results are broadly consistent with other data showing that 64% believe the government should be required to compensate business owners for any losses caused by the government ordered shutdown.

Strong support for new government spending is a rarity in American politics. In this case, the support likely exists because of the connection with government actions that caused the economic harm. Additional research will be needed to determine whether there is public support for spending beyond providing compensation for those harmed by the lockdowns.

That could emerge as a significant dividing line in Congressional debates concerning next steps. Early indications are that House Democrats envision this as a time to enact a broader level of new spending. Some Republicans think it’s time to stop all new spending while others are searching for a way to define meaningful limits to preserve some measure of fiscal discipline.

If Republicans do not come to the table with a plan, however, 58% of voters are ready for President Trump to make a deal with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Just 18% are opposed while 23% are not sure. If Republicans won’t support any new spending, even Republican voters, by a 45% to 31% margin, want the president to make a deal with Pelosi.

Other recent polling shows that 60% of voters nationwide believe every business that establishes safe social distancing protocols should be allowed to open. These numbers cut strongly against the narrative that voters remain committed to continuing the lockdowns. I take a look at some of the reasons behind this disconnect in my latest column.

Currently, 38% believe it would be appropriate to continue the lockdowns in their own neighborhood and community. Fifty-seven percent (57%) disagree. That total includes 40% who believe it is time to ease the restrictions and 17% who believe it is time to end the lockdowns.

Additionally, 65% are concerned that some public officials are using the pandemic as an excuse to infringe upon the Constitutional rights of individual Americans.

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The survey of 1,200 Registered Voters was conducted by Scott Rasmussen using a mixed mode approach from May 7-9, 2020. Field work for the survey was conducted by RMG Research, Inc. Most respondents were contacted online while 174 were contacted using automated phone polling techniques. Certain quotas were applied and the overall sample and lightly weighted by geography, gender, age, race, and political party to reasonably reflect the nation’s population of Registered Voters. Other variables were reviewed to ensure that the final sample is representative of that population.